Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Arizona continues its growth trajectory, expanding its network with the planned opening of a third Outpatient Care Center (OCC) in early 2019. Additionally, the CTCA® hospital in Goodyear recently announced it has received accreditation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), meeting well-defined health and safety standards for patient care, and now enabling the hospital to serve Medicare-insured patients; the OCCs have treated Medicare patients since opening.

“Our focus at CTCA has always been on providing the highest quality, safest care possible for the patients we are honored to serve. This accreditation confirms our commitment to those in our care, and we are incredibly proud of this achievement,” said Rob Gould, President, and CEO, CTCA in Arizona. “With this accreditation, even more, patients now have access to advanced, personalized treatment options.”

In April of 2018, CTCA announced it became a contracted provider in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s (BCBSAZ) statewide PPO and HMO networks, giving more patients who have BCBSAZ insurance through their employer access to CTCA model of personalized, patient-centered cancer care.

“We are always looking for opportunities to expand access to quality care for our members,” said BCBSAZ Chief Growth Officer Paige Rothermel. “Our in-network agreement with Cancer Treatment Centers of America will make more cancer services available to those in need.”

In addition to expanding its access, CTCA has entered the outpatient care setting, recently opening two Outpatient Care Centers – one in Scottsdale and one in North Phoenix – with a third planned to open in early 2019 in Gilbert.

“Clinical advancements in cancer care have significantly changed the way in which we treat the disease, including offering patients access to the most advanced treatment options in a convenient, more cost-effective outpatient setting,” said Gould. “CTCA Outpatient Care Centers provide patients convenient access to oncology treatments and integrated care with highly respected physicians and clinicians who have access to a national network of CTCA oncology experts.”

The OCCs offer the same integrated approach to oncology care available in the CTCA hospital setting, providing patients with access to a range of certified specialists to help combat side effects and enhance the quality of life both during and after treatment.

“A cancer diagnosis is life changing, and patients deserve access to the most advanced, evidence-based treatment options available, delivered by a team of compassionate doctors who work hand-in-hand to provide the best possible care,” said Marnee Spierer, MD, Chief of Staff, Chief of Radiation Oncology, CTCA Phoenix. “I became a doctor to help as many people as possible, and with the expansion of our physical locations and our increased access through relationship with providers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, our physicians and I have more opportunities to do just that.”

To complement its community outreach and expansion, CTCA has also launched a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program for external physicians. The goal of this program is to strengthen the clinical community as a whole for the betterment of overall patient care. In addition to two locally-scheduled events, CTCA currently has two enduring educational events available online for physicians, one on Medscape and one on myCME. These activities capture molecular tumor boards for a variety of cancer types).

“Health care is ever changing – especially when it comes to advancements in oncology care,” added Spierer. “We are proud not only to learn from our fellow community physicians, but also to share our knowledge, continuously discovering new ways in which we can collectively, and collaboratively, improve overall patient care and outcomes.”

The CTCA Comprehensive Cancer Care Network includes five hospitals throughout the country as well as Outpatient Care Centers. It is staffed by accomplished physicians with decades of experience treating cancer. Additionally, these physicians work collaboratively throughout the CTCA network and with the CTCA Cancer Institutes. The Institutes are comprised of nationally recognized subject matter experts who lead the coordinated development and delivery of disease-specific, evidence-based cancer care to CTCA patients.