MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER PROVIDING CANCER CARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OPELOUSAS GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM

Cancer care takes new shape as organizations expand offerings and create convenient access for patient-centered approach

Opelousas General Health System (OGHS) and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (Mary Bird Perkins) is today celebrating the completion of an agreement to expand and enhance cancer care resources in the Greater Opelousas area, effective immediately. Through this partnership, Acadiana patients have convenient access to Louisiana’s largest team of cancer care specialists through Mary Bird Perkins. Cancer services will continue to be provided on OGHS’ South Campus, 3983 I-49 S. Service Rd.

Current OHGS staff members, including nurses, with an average of 15 years of oncology experience, continue to work at the Cancer Center. In addition, OGHS’ current cancer center is Commission on Cancer (CoC), accredited. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. 

According to Jonas Fontenot, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Mary Bird Perkins, the partnership serves the missions of both organizations by emphasizing a strong focus on prevention, early detection, community outreach and expert treatment. He noted that Mary Bird Perkins is the only healthcare organization in Louisiana with a 100 percent dedicated focus on oncology, providing services for more than 50 years in communities across Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.

“Opelousas General and Mary Bird Perkins share a passion for bringing high-quality patient care to communities where people live and work. We are proud to partner with OGHS in pursuit of our mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer,” said Fontenot.

St. Landry Parish has the highest mortality rate in the Acadiana region and is in the top 10 parishes in Louisiana with the highest mortality rate, according to the Louisiana Tumor Registry.

"Opelousas General Health System opened the doors of its first Cancer Center in 1988 and has been dedicated to providing this community with comprehensive cancer care services utilizing the latest technology in cancer treatment," said Kenneth Cochran, RN, DSc, FACHE, president and chief executive officer, Opelousas General Health System. "This partnership offers a sustained continuation of growth

in the enhancement of those services and will have the biggest impact on our patients, which is ultimately why we continue to strive for better access to care." 
 

Over time, OGHS and Mary Bird Perkins expect to grow the Cancer Center with additional resources, enhanced clinical support and advances in cancer care normally only available at national facilities.

Bryan Bienvenu, M.D. and David Hanson, M.D., Mary Bird Perkins, are now accepting patients at the OGHS campus. Both physicians are board certified medical oncologists practicing with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and members of Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates (LHOA). Nurse practitioners Rachel Cunningham, FNP, Kasey Dunn, FNP and Brittany Fortie, FNP, will continue to provide support for cancer patients at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Opelousas General Health System.

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About Opelousas General Health System
Since 1957, Opelousas General Health System has been dedicated to the provision of quality health care through its strong commitment and high standards. Central to the success of OGHS's commitment for excellence is the presence of an outstanding and highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, technologists and other personnel who provide professional treatment in a caring environment. Serving as the region's referral medical center, OGHS is a 197-bed, full service medical center, and the area's most comprehensive community health care facility offering a wide range of medical specialties and state-of-the-art technology. Visit us at www.opelousasgeneral.com

About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at 10 centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gonzales, Hammond, Houma, Opelousas, Slidell, and Natchez, Mississippi, and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. Mary Bird Perkins has a strategic affiliation with OneOncology and the largest radiation and medical oncology groups from across the area including exclusive partnerships with Southeastern Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group, which provides radiation therapy throughout Mary Bird Perkins’ service areas, Northshore Oncology Associates, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, specifically the communities of Covington and Slidell and Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates, which services the Greater Baton Rouge area. For more information, please visit www.marybird.org.

Pictured from left are Jonas Fontenot, Ph.D, President & CEO, Mary Bird Perkins; Gina Bradley Tuttle, Chairman, OGHS Board of Trustees and Kenneth Cochran, DSc, RN, FACHE, President & CEO, Opelousas General Health System.