Southcoast Center for Cancer Care opens in Fall River

Top local oncologist chooses to join new Southcoast program offering seamless care for cancer patients

"We want to ensure that no matter where a patient lives in the South Coast, they have access to expert, compassionate and comprehensive cancer care."

— Keith A. Hovan
President & CEO
Southcoast Hospitals Group

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group today announced the opening of its new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River. Located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, the new cancer care center is the first step toward bringing coordinated care and advanced oncology services to the entire South Coast region — from Fall River to Cape Cod.

Southcoast also announced today that one of the region's top medical oncologists has chosen to join the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care. Mark Shparber, MD, a medical oncologist/hematologist who has served the Greater Fall River region for more than 20 years, will join the team of top-tier clinicians in September. He is currently practicing at the Hudner Oncology Center at Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River.

"Southcoast is ushering in a new era of cancer care in our region. Never before have the residents of Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island had access to this level of comprehensive oncology services backed by their own regional health system," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The level of care being provided by this stellar team of professionals further solidifies Southcoast's commitment to the entire South Coast region."

The new comprehensive center provides a full range of oncology services, including image-guided radiation therapy, the very latest technology available in radiation treatment for cancer. The radiation therapy program will utilize IGRT, IMRT and PET/CT technology, which is considered the very latest technology available in radiation treatment for cancer. The Cancer Center will also specialize in the latest chemotherapies, surgery and advanced diagnostic imaging. Support services, educational materials and screenings will be offered in collaboration with the American Cancer Society.

Comforting care

Southcoast's new Cancer Centers will also have a dedicated "Patient Navigator" to make sure every patient's journey through cancer treatment is as smooth as possible. The Patient Navigator is a "go-to" person to help coordinate appointments, answer questions and point them in the right direction will guide every patient through their care. This coordinator will manage all aspects of the patient's care, including appointments with physicians, radiology and laboratory services, medication and pain management, support services, transportation and any questions the patient or family members may have during their visit or after they return home.

"After meeting with oncology patients from across the region, we determined that one of the hardest parts of undergoing a cancer diagnosis is managing the many appointments, medications, transportation concerns and any issues that may arise during treatment," said Linda Bodenmann, Chief Operating Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Our Patient Navigators will guide our patients in a compassionate and comprehensive manner so they are getting the best care possible in a hassle-free environment."

The newly renovated area at Charlton also offers patients and their families a comforting, spa-like environment with a host of amenities such as valet parking, personal TVs in the chemotherapy treatment area, Internet access, refreshments and a resource library.

The Fall River cancer center will operate as an extension of Southcoast's new flagship cancer center in Fairhaven that was announced last year and is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center will be located on Mill Road and will address the fragmented cancer care and growing need for advanced comprehensive cancer services in the eastern portion of the region. Patients in that part of the South Coast currently have to travel long distances for cancer care. Charlton's cancer center is operational before the Fairhaven site is completed due to the longer construction schedule for Fairhaven. Southcoast's existing cancer center in North Dartmouth, formerly known as The Oncology Center, will stay operational until the Fairhaven center opens in 2011.

"In anticipation of the main Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fairhaven, we have upgraded our regional system of cancer services. Previously oncology services in the region were fragmented among providers and services," Bodenmann said. "Our patients and their family members will have access to the same team of experts and services whether they are at our Fall River or North Dartmouth sites."

Current services at the North Dartmouth location will be upgraded to reflect the full-range of care provided through Southcoast's new cancer program. Cancer patients at both locations will receive treatment from our expanded team of cancer specialists, including being appointed a Patient Navigator.

Patients who receive medical treatment at the North Dartmouth location, and need radiation services, will be offered a free shuttle to and from the Fall River cancer center. Staff will coordinate appointments at both sites. Families are welcome to ride on the shuttle as well.

Clinical Leadership

Mark Shparber, MD Medical Oncologist

Mark Shparber, MD, medical oncologist is the latest physician to join the Southcoast oncology team. Having been a part of the Charlton Memorial medical staff for 20 years, he brings a unique perspective on the region's demographics and the patients he will continue to serve.

"I am proud to join the oncologists who will be leading Southcoast's cancer program. Practicing at Southcoast Cancer Centers will allow me to reach patients who in the past have had to travel to receive their care elsewhere," said Dr. Shparber. "Fittingly, I have an intimate knowledge of the health challenges facing our community members and the patients who I will be caring for. My unique role on the team will be offering this insight as a way to target the most critical services that may be absent at the present time."

Dr. Shparber has been part of the Charlton Memorial medical staff for two decades and serves on various committees at Southcoast Hospitals, including the Southcoast Cancer Committee, the Bioethics Committee, Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, the Credentialing Committee, and as Chairman of the Charlton Memorial Internal Review Board (IRB) Committee. He is also the current Medical Director of Hospice Outreach program in Fall River.

Dr. Shparber earned a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center in New York City, where he also performed his internal medicine internship training and internal medicine residency in conjunction with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He received his Medical Degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

In addition to Dr. Shparber, Southcoast has pulled together an outstanding team of professionals, including physicians from some of the major academic cancer centers around the country. Patients undergoing cancer treatments may receive care from medical, radiation and/or surgical oncologists. Other members of the team include oncology nurses, technologists, pharmacists, social workers and nutritionists.

"Our new services, staff and locations are designed with one goal in mind — to bring our patients and their families the very best cancer treatment possible and make it available right here in your own community," said Therese M. Mulvey, MD, the Physician-in-Chief of Oncology Services for the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care. "It is important that the South Coast community have access to high-quality oncology services and leading-edge clinical cancer research without having to travel. We hope to empower patients to receive high-quality care in their own communities, with shared decision making among specialists and patients."

Dr. Mulvey is a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine. She joined Southcoast from Commonwealth Hematology Oncology in Quincy, Mass., New England's largest private cancer care network, where she has practiced since 1991 and served as president.

Southcoast also recently announced Teresa Boyle, MD, Radiation Oncologist, a board-certified physician in radiation oncology and internal medicine is joining Southcoast from Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Tex., an affiliated institution of the Texas A&M Health Science Center; and Todd F. Roberts, MD, MSc., Medical Oncologist, is joining Southcoast from Hematology and Oncology Specialists, LLC, in New Orleans, where he served as Director of Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation.

"We will continue to pursue our goal of being recognized as a top provider of care in every clinical service we offer," Hovan said. "Cancer is a growing health problem that will soon surpass heart disease. We want to ensure that no matter where a patient lives in the South Coast, they have access to expert, compassionate and comprehensive cancer care."

For more information on Southcoast's cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.