Carti, Two Oncology Clinics Form New Partnership
by August 23, 2011 7:00 pm 172 views
CARTI, Little Rock Hematology Oncology (LRHO) and Radiation Oncology Associates, P.A. (ROAPA), announced today that they are partnering together to form a multi-specialty, coordinated and patient-focused cancer group.
Owned by CARTI, the organization will include medical and surgical oncologists and diagnostic radiologists, with the possibility of eventually adding other cancer specialists. In addition, CARTI will continue their current partnership with ROAPA, which includes seven radiation oncologists.
“At CARTI, our mission for 35 years has been to promote the finest quality cancer treatment and compassionate care and we have done so by only focusing on radiation therapy,” Karen Flake, Chairman of the CARTI Board of Directors, said. “We believe the best way to achieve our overall mission is to partner with high-caliber medical, surgical and radiation oncologists and diagnostic radiologists to become the region’s largest community cancer center in the private practice arena. This partnership with LRHO, ROAPA and CARTI allows us to do that.”
CARTI will work with the LRHO and ROAPA physicians to build a new cancer center in Little Rock that will allow patients easier access to fully integrated cancer care.
CARTI is acquiring certain assets of LRHO, and its physicians are signing contracts to work with CARTI. ROAPA has served as the contracted radiation oncology medical staff at CARTI’s private practice centers located on the campuses of St. Vincent, Baptist Health and Baptist/North Little Rock, and in Searcy and Conway since each of the facilities opened.
“Our three groups have talked over the years about ways to partner together that would be good for our patients, community, colleagues and physicians,” Jan Burford, President and CEO said. “The timing was right for everyone to come around the table to partner together.”
Though the contract has been signed, the clinics will not be under the CARTI umbrella until some of the billing details are finalized.
“We hope to finalize the partnership and become one organization by the end of the year. In the meantime, we will be looking at properties that may be a fit for the new cancer center. Once we have a firm location, we will begin the construction process,” Burford said.