Hartford HealthCare teams with national cancer center, plans facility in Fairfield

Photo | Hartford HealthCare The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at 376 Tolland Turnpike in Manchester.

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Hartford HealthCare on Monday announced plans to expand its relationship with Manhattan-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) that includes building a new cancer center in Fairfield.

The health system, one of the largest in the state, said it is working toward becoming the first “care partner” of MSK. The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, at 79 Retreat Ave. in the city, was the first member of MSK’s Cancer Alliance, which was established 10 years ago.

Hartford HealthCare provides cancer services at six hospitals in the state and at other standalone locations, including in Avon, Manchester, Plainville and Torrington.

Hartford HealthCare is now building a 25,000-square-foot facility at 4185 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, near the Merritt Parkway. Once an “intensive review” of its oncology program, processes and outcomes is completed, the new Fairfield Cancer Center would become an MSK Care Partner.

Two other facilities in the health system — the Cancer Institute and St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport — also will be reviewed in order to receive the MSK Care Partner designation.

The Fairfield Cancer Center will feature Hartford HealthCare physicians on-site to provide outpatient services, the health system said.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the nation for more than 30 years.

“This is a transformative moment for cancer care in Connecticut as we work together to provide greater access to cutting-edge treatments and innovative clinical research,” said Jeffrey A. Flaks, Hartford HealthCare president and CEO.

Organizations that become MSK Care Partners commit to continually improving the quality of their oncology services based on the MSK standard of care. Recurring quality reviews support the adoption of the newest and most effective approaches to cancer care in their community based on scientific evidence, the organizations said.

Once the review is completed Hartford HealthCare patients would gain access to treatment that incorporates MSK’s guidelines, practices and procedures. Hartford HealthCare physicians also will have access to MSK’s expertise and the opportunity to collaborate and interact with MSK physicians.

Hartford Healthcare employs nearly 41,000 people in 500 locations serving 185 communities in Connecticut.