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OHSU, Asante open access Agreement includes treatment, shared programs By SUSAN JAY Local patients with cancer and other serious diseases will have access to the latest treatments and research under a new partnership between Asante Health System and Oregon's only medical school. The board of directors of Asante and Oregon Health Sciences University recently agreed to form a limited liability corporation called OHSU Partners. The agreement is a formal, legal partnership, but without the merging of assets. The two organizations have had a close relationship, and the chief executives of both groups have been working on their own time to develop joint programs. The new agreement means both health care groups are willing to invest money and personnel into the relationship. For Asante patients and doctors, the move means they will have direct access to OHSU programs, including the most up-to-date and accepted treatment for hard-to-manage diseases, as well as research projects and teaching programs. For its part, OHSU will have a regional presence in Southern Oregon, a wider pool of patients for national research studies and an expanded teaching program. "My great hope is that people in Jackson County who come to Portland (OHSU) would feel like they're coming to an Asante facility," said Tim Goldfarb, executive director of OHSU health care system. Goldfarb said OHSU choose Asante because it is the health-care leader in Southern Oregon. Jon Mitchell, chief executive officer of Asante, said the formal partnership is exciting, because "the vistas are uncluttered," as to what the two health organizations could do together. Asante Health System is a nonprofit corporation that owns several health-care businesses, including two hospitals, a nursing home and a medical equipment outlet. Initially the partnership will focus on women, children, geriatric and cancer care. For example, local cancer patients will be able to participate in national research studies on new drugs and treatments at OHSU. The medical school is also helping RVMC recruit a director to oversee its radiation and oncology programs. Doctors who have Alzheimer's patients will eventually be able to call directly to OHSU's Alzheimer's research department for the latest information on treatment and new drugs. The two health organizations have already started working on joint services. Once a month, an OHSU oncologist comes to RVMC to remove skin cancers layer by layer in a special procedure called MOHS, or micrographic removal of skin cancer, which is not available locally. Gary Sherwood, executive vice president overseeing RVMC, will become the director for the OHSU Partners LLC. Sherwood, along with the new board, will be responsible for developing a business plan, which will outline the joint programs and how much each organization will invest in the partnership. Mitchell said Asante will be looking to hire someone new for Sherwood's position. Goldfarb and Mitchell see OHSU Partners expanding to include other health systems. With more partners, Goldfarb said, the result would be more effective and efficient patient care, and in turn, OHSU Partners will be more attractive to health insurance plans. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA