Mercy Medical Center Forges Partnership with American Cancer Society

SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center has signed a collaboration agreement with the American Cancer Society (ACS), partnering the two organizations in an effort to save lives and improve quality of life for cancer patients and survivors in the greater Springfield area.

Each year Mercy Medical Center serves more than 1,200 newly diagnosed cancer patients in the greater Springfield community, offering a wide range of patient care services, including prevention, early detection, treatment, counseling and support, and patient education.

“A cancer diagnosis is not only overwhelming, it also often signals the beginning of a long and challenging experience,” said Kathleen Lafrenaye, nurse manager and patient navigator at the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy.

“The American Cancer Society is dedicated to cancer prevention, saving lives, and reducing cancer-related suffering through research, advocacy, and service. The Sr. Caritas Cancer Center is proud to partner with the ACS through this collaboration and further our commitment to linking patients and their families with needed support services, education and resources.”

The hospital collaboration agreement between Mercy and the ACS will ensure that all newly diagnosed cancer patients at Mercy are informed of all resources, programs, and services provided by the society.

Mercy also offers their cancer patients the only ACS cancer resource center in the area, staffed by trained volunteers, where patients can seek out additional cancer-related resources in the community.

“We are excited about strengthening our collaboration with Mercy Medical Center,” said Lila Brady, community executive with the ACS. “By signing the hospital collaboration agreement, Mercy is emphasizing their commitment to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art patient care and support services to their cancer patients.”

Many of the programs and services provided by the ACS are aimed at improving the quality of life for local cancer patients — for example, by providing transportation for patients to and from treatment through Road to Recovery, helping cancer patients cope with appearance-related side effects from chemotherapy or radiation treatments by teaching hands-on cosmetic techniques through Look Good … Feel Better, and many other programs and services available to patients in the greater Springfield area.