SEATTLE and ATLANTA, May 6 Swedish Cancer Institute (Seattle) and Elekta recently finalized a strategic partnership to launch a major new cancer-care initiative to transform radiation oncology delivery for cancer patients. This unique, multi-year, multi-product collaboration covers the spectrum of cancer management - from treatment planning and delivery to workflow and connectivity - and enhances Swedish Cancer Institute's ability to provide patients access to state-of-the-art technology early in the product introduction cycle.
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This partnership agreement, which is among the most comprehensive in Elekta's history, includes Swedish's acquisition of multiple cancer management solutions, including radiation-therapy treatment systems, treatment planning workstations, electronic medical record systems, clinical service, and a Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion(TM) (radiosurgery) system. Elekta will also provide expertise in process transformation, technology enablement and strategic marketing.
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Officials from Swedish and Elekta believe the combination of both organizations' collective expertise, talents and resources will help deliver transformational benefits to the Cancer Institute's patient population and solidify the 78-year-old program's reputation as a leading destination for world-class care.
"When new products role out, they will do so with key input from Swedish Cancer Institute physicians and our treatment team," says Jim Yates, administrative director at Swedish. "This will help make those solutions more resource-efficient and allow for quicker, smoother integration into the community cancer center settings."
Elekta President and CEO Tomas Puusepp says the agreement is mutually beneficial for both organizations. "Elekta will contribute its innovative technologies and significant experience in the oncology marketplace to further elevate Swedish's position as a cancer-care leader. And in turn, Elekta will benefit from the unique opportunity to partner with one of the most forward-thinking cancer-care institutions in the United States."
Elekta's Jim Rose, vice president of Comprehensive Oncology Solutions, adds that the partnership is a natural fit because both parties have closely aligned missions and values when it comes to improving human care.
"We both strongly believe that a world-class center of excellence requires world-class providers who work tirelessly to ensure that state-of-the-art technology delivers ever-increasing benefits to patients," Rose says.
Swedish Cancer Institute has a long history of early adoption of radiation treatment technology. Through its Center for Advanced Targeted Radiotherapies (CATRT), Swedish Cancer Institute works collaboratively with technology partners to optimize clinical tools and practices early in the innovation cycle.
"Our position as a leading, non-profit health-care provider means we have an obligation to explore new solutions that contribute to making health-care delivery more efficient and effective. Embarking on this type of partnership with Elekta, the major provider of radiation oncology technology, will allow us to help steer the future of technology and its integration into community cancer centers," says Swedish CEO Dr. Rod Hochman.
"Swedish Cancer Institute continues to build on its track record for radiation oncology innovation and excellent patient care. This unprecedented partnership will allow Elekta's development engineers to have access to clinical radiation oncology experts and should result in a better, more improved product," says Vivek Mehta, M.D., director of the CATRT at Swedish Cancer Institute.
Elekta will also deploy its technology and strategy experts alongside Swedish Cancer Institute's key physicians, clinicians and administrators to ensure the highest priority is placed on implementing successive phases of the agreement.
In addition, the partnership includes establishment of Swedish Cancer Institute as a customer training facility, clinical product development center, and global reference site for Elekta.
About Elekta
Elekta is a human-care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment-planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow-enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.
Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both health-care providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.
Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, visit www.elekta.com.
About Swedish
Established in 1910, Swedish has grown to become the largest, most comprehensive non-profit health provider in the Greater Seattle area over its 100-year history. Today, it is comprised of three hospital campuses - First Hill, Cherry Hill and Ballard - a freestanding emergency department and ambulatory care center in Issaquah, Swedish Visiting Nurse Services, the Swedish Physician Division - a network of more than 40 primary-care and specialty clinics located throughout the Puget Sound area. This fall, Swedish broke ground on a new medical office building and hospital in the Issaquah Highlands, as well as a new emergency department and medical office building in Ballard. In addition to general medical and surgical care, Swedish is known as a regional referral center, providing specialized treatment in areas such as cancer care, neuroscience, cardiovascular care, orthopedics, high-risk obstetrics, pediatric specialties, general and robotic-assisted surgery, organ transplantation and clinical research. For more information, visit www.swedish.org and www.swedish100.org.
About Swedish Cancer Institute
Swedish Cancer Institute (SCI) opened in 1932 as the first dedicated cancer-care center west of the Mississippi River. Since then, it has grown to become the largest, most comprehensive cancer treatment program in the Pacific Northwest. The Institute has a presence on all three of Swedish's hospital campuses as well as in East King County through a medical oncology clinic near Issaquah. A true multidisciplinary program, SCI offers a wide range of advanced cancer-treatment options in chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery - backed by extensive diagnostic capabilities, patient education and support-group services. The Institute's clinical-research arm includes industry-sponsored and cooperative group therapeutic trials, cancer screening and prevention trials, and investigator-initiated trials. Breast-cancer screening and diagnostics are available through the Swedish Breast Care Centers and two state-of-the-art mobile mammography coaches. Swedish radiation therapy is also offered at various Puget Sound-area community hospitals including Stevens Hospital (Edmonds), Valley Medical Center (Renton), Highline Community Hospital (Burien), and Northwest Hospital (North Seattle). For more information, visit www.swedish.org
About SCI's Center for Advanced Targeted Radiotherapies
SCI's Center for Advanced Targeted Radiotherapies encompasses the comprehensive and complementary array of advanced and emerging radiation delivery tools available to patients for both approved therapies and clinical-research efforts. That includes technologies such as Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy, linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery, the Calypso® 4D Localization System, Xoft Axxent(TM) Electronic Brachytherapy System, MammoSite® Radiation Therapy System, and the Seattle CyberKnife Center(TM) at Swedish. SCI is also working toward adding the latest generation of proton beam radiotherapy systems.
SOURCE Elekta
