MD Anderson Ranked #1 in Cancer Care

In a recent release of the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey, MD Anderson Cancer Center was ranked No. 1 in cancer care. HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is a certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson in Houston.

The collaboration, first launched in March 2018, builds on the work and clinical advancements of the cancer care experts in the Effingham area, and connects them with internationally known leaders in cancer care. The hospital’s service is called “HSHS Integrated Cancer Services,” which will be used as a standard across the hospitals of the HSHS Southern Illinois Division to demonstrate the quality cancer services offered regardless of which HSHS hospital.

Physicians on St. Anthony’s Medical Staff that are certified physicians of MD Anderson Cancer Network include Dr. Ruben Boyajian, Dr. Philip Dy, Dr. Casey Duncan, Dr. Lisa Kowalski, Dr. P. Dharmadev (David) L. Nayak and Dr. Hanna Saba.

St. Anthony’s collaboration with the network means local access to the pioneering evidence-based guidelines, treatment plans and best practices developed and refined over the last 80 years by the subspecialized experts at MD Anderson. These are disease-specific guidelines for cancer treatment, prevention, diagnosis, symptom management and follow-up care. Collaborations between network members and MD Anderson experts provide high quality care to patients within the communities where they live. Local physicians still care for patients at local facilities.

Theresa Rutherford, president and CEO of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, shared, “We are proud to be a certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network. The affiliation allows our certified physicians to have access to advanced treatment guidelines and best practices developed by MD Anderson to bring new hope to local cancer patients while remaining close to home for their care,” she said.

MD Anderson’s mission is to eliminate cancer not only in Texas but across the nation and the world. The mission to end cancer drives MD Anderson Cancer Network to reach out to like-minded healthproviders and elevate the level of cancer care in communities around the nation. St. Anthony’s became the 18th certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network in March 2018.

As a certified member of the network, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital utilizes MD Anderson’s renowned clinical standards and expertise to elevate the quality of patient care with one clear, shared mission — to end cancer.

For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital’s cancer care services and its affiliation with MD Anderson Cancer Network, visit the hospital’s web site at stanthonyshospital.org/cancer. For additional information about MD Anderson Cancer Network, visit MDAnderson.org/cancernetwork.

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.