Mount Nittany Health and Penn State Hershey Health System have joined together to create Cancer Care Partnership, a partnership of Mount Nittany Health and Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, to provide state-of-the-art, personalized hematology, medical oncology and infusion services at the Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College.
“With Mount Nittany Health and Penn State Hershey working together, we are maximizing our relationship to jointly recruit more oncology physicians and specialists to State College and to improve access to cancer treatments for our patients that are fighting a cancer diagnosis,” said Janet Schachtner, senior vice president, patient care services, Mount Nittany Health.
Cancer Care Partnership provides benign and malignant hematology services, chemotherapy, biotherapy, immunotherapy, infusion services, coagulation medicine and treatment of oncologic malignancies with additional services to be added. A key service in the new Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion at Mount Nittany Medical Center, the practice provides the expertise of five oncologists and an advanced practice nurse, all supported by certified oncology nurses and highly trained support staff from both organizations.
“This collaboration with Mount Nittany Health makes it easier for Centre County-area residents to gain access to the resources of our academic health center as close to home as possible,” said Robin Wittenstein, chief operating officer, Penn State Hershey Health System. “We know that coordinated cancer care results in improved quality and better health outcomes for patients. This program improves our ability to deliver that care.”
In 2000, Mount Nittany Health became a member of the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute and its search for the cure. In 2006, Mount Nittany Health, Penn State Hershey and State College-based cardiologists initiated interventional cardiology at Mount Nittany Medical Center, improving access to care during a heart attack and preventing myocardial infarctions through preventative interventions. In 2011, Penn State College of Medicine’s University Park Regional Campus commenced its first cohort of third year medical students at Mount Nittany Medical Center.