Proton beam project attracts major Ann Arbor hospitals

Ann Arbor‘s two major health-care providers are helping lead the charge to bring proton beam therapy to Michigan.

 

Trinity (St. Joseph Mercy Hospital) and University of Michigan health systems make a third of the health systems working to bring the cutting-edge cancer treatment to the state. Among the other southeast Michigan health systems participating are the Karmanos Cancer Center and the Henry Ford Health System. The six health systems are forming a collaborative to help spread the cost, which starts at $160 million, between them.

 

Proton beam therapy is an innovative form of radiation treatment with potential to cause fewer side effects and less damage to healthy tissue than traditional radiation. Only five facilities across the country offer proton beam therapy.

 

“Having access to proton beam therapy is important for the citizens of the state of Michigan, and a collaborative is the best approach to ensuring adequate access and appropriate utilization of the service,” says Dr. Robert P. Kelch, executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Michigan and chief executive officer of the U-M Health System. “This is also the best possible health policy for the state of Michigan. The collaborative will be working diligently over the next few months to develop a viable business plan to ensure that we bring this exciting technology to Michigan in a timely manner.”

 

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation that uses particles called protons. Traditional radiation therapy uses photons, or X-rays. Protons deliver radiation to a more targeted area than photons can achieve, which means it has the potential to spare more healthy tissue or organs as the radiation more precisely hits the tumor.

 

However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential of this treatment. To help accomplish this, the consortium is including a research component to help define which patients will benefit from proton technology.

 

“Working together as part of a consortium will ensure that proton beam therapy is available to all in Michigan who need it, regardless of where they live or what hospital their insurance covers,” says Nancy Schlichting, president and chief executive office of the Henry Ford Health System. “This consortium of hospitals is best poised to develop this promising therapy for the state.”

 

Source: University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke