In early April, Southlake announced a unique partnership with Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), a world leader in cancer care, which will bring the latest knowledge, research and expertise to our region as we prepare to build the Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake.

Southlake is committed to ensuring that,  when cancer strikes, the residents of York Region and the Central LHIN* will have access to high-quality cancer radiation therapy closer to home.

To honour this commitment we must accomplish two major feats: build a state-of-the-art facility, which is currently in progress, and ensure we have a healthcare team that is ready to deliver world-class care. Our partnership with Princess Margaret Hospital provides a priceless opportunity for Southlake’s cancer team to work with internationally renowned experts in the field of cancer treatment and research.

The collaboration will be a win-win as we work together to advance world-class cancer care services in this rapidly growing region. This is a tremendous opportunity for Canada’s largest cancer research and teaching hospital to partner with a new cancer program — particularly the first centre in Ontario planning to open with one of the most advanced radiation treatment techniques, Image Guided Radiation Therapy — by sharing knowledge, research and expertise that will benefit patients closer to home.

Other areas of focus will include mentoring and support during the startup of the new cancer centre; development and application of precision radiation therapy techniques; clinical research programs and clinical drug trials; comprehensive education programs, and e-Health initiatives, such as developing processes for sharing clinical protocols, treatment plans and patient related information.

Enthusiasm for this announcement also came from Cancer Care Ontario, which has responsibility for planning cancer care services across the province.  “Partnering with PMH, a cancer centre with established excellence in cancer services delivery, is a very positive step toward building a regional cancer program that delivers the latest advances in cancer treatment to the people of Central LHIN,” said Terrence Sullivan, president and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario. “Partnerships like this one within and across LHINs will be critical as more new cancer centres get up and running in the coming years.

Scheduled to open mid-2009, Southlake’s new cancer centre will provide cancer diagnostics, cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment and follow-up care to the more than one million people who reside in the geographical area known as the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). With the opening of the regional cancer centre, Southlake will be the only non-teaching hospital in Ontario to specialize in both cancer and cardiac care and to offer a total of five regional programs.

*Southlake is part of the Central LHIN —one of 14 LHINs that have been established by the government of Ontario to help transform the health care system.

The Central LHIN boundaries include a northern section of the City of Toronto, most of York Region and  part of south Simcoe County.

LHINs are community-based organizations that have the mandate to plan, co-ordinate, integrate and fund health services at the local level including hospitals, long-term care homes, community care access centres, community support services, community mental health and addictions services and community health centres.