Each year, the Evening of Hope Executive Committee recognizes a local cancer survivor as well as a medical professional who provides hope and inspiration to those touched by cancer.  The 2012 gala was held Friday, February 10, 2012, at the Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta.  Mr. Pete Vanwieren was also honored as Survivor Honoree.  Congressman Tom Price served as Honorary Chair.

“All of those who have had the privilege to get to know Dr. Mark McCord as a patient, co-worker, or friend in the community can attest to his passion and compassion for cancer patients.  These attributes help him provide hope and inspiration to cancer patients, survivors and their families,” said Greg Merrill, President and COO of ROSA.

Dr. Mark McCord’s father, Dale McCord M.D., also a radiation oncologist and founder of Atlanta Oncology Associates, attended the event.  “Mark’s work with the American Cancer Society has long been a source of pride and inspiration for me and all of the physicians at Atlanta Oncology Associates.  We thank the ACS for recognizing Mark’s dedication, and we congratulate Mr. Vanwieren and Congressman Price on their commendations.”

“I am humbled to have been selected by the Executive Committee for this honor,” said Mark McCord, M.D.  “The American Cancer Society is one of our best resources and partners in the fight against cancer, and it is a privilege to share the stage with Mr. Vanwieren and Congressman Price as we highlight the importance of hope for cancer patients and their families.”

Radiation Oncology Services of America, Inc., headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, owns interests in, operates and manages 19 radiation therapy facilities in six states.  ROSA is a subsidiary of Ambulatory Services of America, Inc. (ASA), a diversified health care services company also headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.  ASA provides alternative site services in partnership with physicians through its primary subsidiaries, Radiation Oncology Services of America, Inc. and Innovative Dialysis Systems.

Alpharetta, GA – U.S. Representative Tom Price (R-District 6) today toured Georgia Center for Total Cancer Care at Preston Ridge, a local free-standing radiation therapy center offering the latest cancer technologies and therapies, to meet with cancer care specialists, patients and family members and learn more about radiation therapy offerings in the area.  Members of the Alpharetta area’s cancer care community discussed the key role community-based radiation therapy centers have in helping win the war on cancer, as well as the importance of a logical, predictable Medicare reimbursement policy to ensure continued access to state-of-the-art, quality cancer care in the community setting.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to tour Georgia Center for Total Cancer Care at Preston Ridge and meet with some of the local constituents and cancer care staff that are providing excellent, first class care right here in our district,” said Representative Price. “Especially in an area of health care such as this that is constantly evolving with new technologies, it is wonderful to see the high level of care being delivered in our local community.”

“We applaud Representative Price’s commitment to serving our area’s residents and are honored to welcome him to our facility today to meet with our patients and dedicated care giving staff,” said Dr. Mark McCord, a radiation oncologist at Georgia Center for Total Cancer Care at Preston Ridge. “We are proud to demonstrate the quality care we provide and thank  Representative Price for his efforts to ensure that Alpharetta-area patients are able to continue receiving quality, state of the art cancer care right here in our community.”

In addition to showcasing the latest techniques and innovations in radiation therapy, Georgia Center for Total Cancer Care at Preston Ridge physicians and staff expressed the need for stable, predictable payments in order to ensure that cancer patients can access the full care and medicines recommended by their doctors.  In recent years, Medicare payments have been subject to numerous proposed payment reductions, on top of previously enacted federal Medicare cuts for all physician services. Members of the local cancer care community warn that deep additional cuts to radiation therapy services threaten patients’ access to life-saving cancer care.  Furthermore, payment reductions could potentially lead to forced facility closures and limited patient access to cutting-edge technologies, which could then result in worsened health outcomes.

Radiation therapy has saved thousands of lives across our country and is helping Americans win the war on cancer as one of the three most commonly used cancer treatments along with surgery and chemotherapy.  Today, approximately 50 to 60 percent of cancer patients are treated with radiation at some time during their course of care, and this critical therapy applied through the latest advanced technology is greatly improving patient outcomes.

Further, freestanding cancer centers are often located in underserved and critical access areas, providing patients with a point of care close to home that allows them to remain active in their communities and even keep working as they undergo treatment.

Georgia Center for Total Cancer Care at Preston Ridge provides more than 10,000 treatments annually, and last year delivered care to approximately 500 new patients diagnosed with prostate, breast and lung cancers and other life-threatening diseases.  The center offers patients a variety of non-invasive radiation therapy services, with minimal side effects. 

Local Cancer Care Facility Explains Important Role Medicare Reimbursement Plays in Ensuring Patient Access to Quality, Community-Based Cancer Care

Winfield, IL – U.S. Representative Peter Roskam (R-District 6) today toured DuPage Oncology Center, a local free-standing radiation therapy center offering the latest cancer technologies and therapies, to meet with cancer care specialists, patients and family members and learn more about radiation therapy offerings in the area.  Members of the Winfield area’s cancer care community discussed the key role community-based radiation therapy centers have in helping win the war on cancer, as well as the importance of a logical, predictable Medicare reimbursement policy to ensure continued access to state-of-the-art, quality cancer care in the community setting.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to tour DuPage Oncology Center and meet cancer care staff providing world-class care right here in our district,” said Representative Roskam.  “The high-level care being delivered in our local community, especially in an area with evolving new technologies, is an invaluable asset to the community.”

“We applaud Representative Roskam’s commitment to serving our area’s residents and are honored to welcome him to our facility today to meet with our patients and dedicated care giving staff,” said Dr. Dennis L. Galinsky, a radiation oncologist at DuPage Oncology Center. “We are proud to demonstrate the quality care we provide and thank  Representative Roskam for his efforts to ensure that Winfield-area patients are able to continue receiving quality, state of the art cancer care right here in our community.”

In addition to showcasing the latest techniques and innovations in radiation therapy,

DuPage Oncology Center physicians and staff expressed the need for stable, predictable payments in order to ensure that cancer patients can access the full care and medicines recommended by their doctors.  In recent years, Medicare payments have been subject to numerous proposed payment reductions, on top of previously enacted federal Medicare cuts for all physician services. Members of the local cancer care community warn that deep additional cuts to radiation therapy services threaten patients’ access to life-saving cancer care.  Furthermore, payment reductions could potentially lead to forced facility closures and limited patient access to cutting-edge technologies, which could then result in worsened health outcomes. 

Radiation therapy has saved thousands of lives across our country and is helping Americans win the war on cancer as one of the three most commonly used cancer treatments along with surgery and chemotherapy.  Today, approximately 50 to 60 percent of cancer patients are treated with radiation at some time during their course of care, and this critical therapy applied through the latest advanced technology is greatly improving patient outcomes. 

Further, freestanding cancer centers are often located in underserved and critical access areas, providing patients with a point of care close to home that allows them to remain active in their communities and even keep working as they undergo treatment.   

DuPage Oncology Center provides more than 8,000 treatments annually, and last year treated over 400 patients with prostate, breast and lung cancers and other life-threatening diseases.  The center offers patients a variety of non-invasive radiation therapy services, with minimal side effects.   

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to tour Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center and meet with some of the local constituents and cancer care staff that are providing excellent, first class care right here in our district,” said Representative Southerland.  “Especially in an area of health care such as this that is constantly evolving with new technologies, it is wonderful to see the high level of care being delivered in our local community.”  

“We applaud Representative Southerland’s commitment to serving our area’s residents and are honored to welcome him to our facility today to meet with our patients and dedicated care giving staff,” said Dr. David Hurst, radiation oncologist of Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center. “We are proud to demonstrate the quality care we provide and thank  Representative Southerland for his efforts to ensure that Panama City-area patients are able to continue receiving quality, state of the art cancer care right here in our community.”

In addition to showcasing the latest techniques and innovations in radiation therapy, Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center’s physician and staff expressed the need for stable, predictable payments in order to ensure that cancer patients can access the full care and medicines recommended by their doctors.  In recent years, Medicare payments have been subject to numerous proposed payment reductions, on top of previously enacted federal Medicare cuts for all physician services. Members of the local cancer care community warn that deep additional cuts to radiation therapy services threaten patients’ access to life-saving cancer care.  Additional payment reductions could potentially lead to forced facility closures and limited patient access to cutting-edge technologies, which could then result in worsened health outcomes. 

Radiation oncology has saved thousands of lives across our country and is helping Americans win the war on cancer as one of the three most commonly used cancer treatments along with surgery and chemotherapy.  Today, approximately 50 to 60 percent of cancer patients are treated with radiation at some time during their course of care, and this critical therapy applied through the latest advanced technology is greatly improving patient outcomes. 

Further, freestanding cancer centers are often located in underserved and critical access areas, providing patients with a point of care close to home that allows them to remain active in their communities and even keep working as they undergo treatment. 

Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center provides more than 5.000 treatments annually, and last year delivered care to approximately 300 new patients diagnosed with prostate, breast and lung cancers and other life-threatening diseases.  The center offers patients a variety of non-invasive radiation therapy services, with minimal side effects. 

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Radiation Oncology Services of American (ROSA) is a member of the Radiation Therapy Alliance, a non-profit organization representing 230 for-profit, community-based cancer care facilities in 24 states caring for more than 78,000 cancer patients annually, working together to educate lawmakers on the essential services free-standing cancer care centers provide; demonstrate the need for stable government funding; and influence public policy to ensure patients receive the quality, compassionate cancer care they deserve. 

 Elekta Synergy, manufactured by Elekta, is an advanced digital linear accelerator that integrates a suite of imaging tools to enable high quality 3D imaging while patients are being treated. "This capability provides us with a solution to two of the most persistent and significant problems in radiation therapy: internal organ motion and errors in patient set-up," explained Dr. D.B. Hurst, Medical Director of GCCTC. Dr. Jefferson Trupp added, "Elekta Synergy provides unmatched clinical confidence to treat tumors more aggressively, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue."

 GCCTC is excited to welcome current patients, alumni patients, and the public to attend the Open House. Area physicians, as well as State Representative Jimmy Patronis, are also expected to attend.

 "I’m looking forward to seeing the new cancer-fighting technology that Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center is bringing to our community," said Rep. Patronis.

Elekta Synergy: A New Approach to Radiation Therapy

Elekta Synergy helps determine the precise location of tumors and normal surrounding tissues. Traditional radiotherapy calls for imaging studies to be done several days before treatment. During the time between imaging and treatment, the tumor may change size or shift position. Elekta Synergy enables Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center’s radiation oncologists to obtain images just before treatment with the patient in the exact position in which he or she will be treated. This technology reduces the risk of errors in tumor targeting and patient positioning, while also allowing an increase in radiation dose to the tumor by virtue of more certainty in the tumor’s location. The goal is to improve the patient’s quality of life and the chances for long-term survival. Elekta^® Synergy is a registered trademark owned by the Elekta Group.

Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center

Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center is owned and operated by ROSA of Georgia, LLC, a joint venture between Atlanta Oncology Associates and Radiation Oncology Services of America, Inc. Since its establishment in 1991, GCCTC’s radiation oncologists have provided quality radiation therapy while achieving high standards of patient satisfaction with on-site, state-of-the-art radiation oncology services. ROSA of Georgia owns and operates eight radiation therapy centers in Georgia and Florida.

 “As our relationship with ASA and ROSA has grown and matured, we have seen firsthand the benefits of having a strong, national company as a partner,” said Dale McCord, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of American Professional Associates and American Oncology Associates.  “We look forward to transitioning to the next phase of that relationship.

Nashville, Tennessee (January 7, 2009) - - Ambulatory Services of America, Inc. announced the formation of ROSA of South Alabama, LLC, its seventh radiation oncology joint venture.  ROSA of South Alabama is a joint venture among Gulf Coast Cancer Center – Gulf Shores, P.C., Monroeville Radiation – Oncology, P.C., and South Alabama Radiation Oncology, P.C., and ASA’s subsidiary, Radiation Oncology Services of America, Inc.  

ROSA of South Alabama will own and operate four radiation oncology facilities in Gulf Shores, Brewton, Foley and Monroeville, Alabama. ROSA of South Alabama will offer state-of-the-art cancer treatment services, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the facilities.  The joint venture expects to build on Gulf Coast Cancer Centers’ legacy of providing high-quality cancer care to the residents and visitors to the south Alabama region.  The physicians currently serving patients at each facility will continue to provide physician services to patients being treated at the facilities.  William Hixson, M.D. will serve as medical director for each of the facilities.