Cancer patients treated at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale will have access to more clinical trials and medical treatments under a new agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Patrick A. Taylor, president and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital, announced a five-year affiliation with the Massachusetts teaching hospital that expands a collaboration that began in 2010.

Patients treated at the Michael and Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center at Holy Cross will now have available an increased number of clinical trials and medical treatments. Genetic counseling services will be expanded and offered to all cancer patients. Holy Cross patients also will have access to specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and will receive referrals for second opinions and improved coordination of care.

"Our relationship with the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center has been very successful as we collaborate on new ways to provide leading-edge oncology care to our mutual patients," Taylor said in a written statement. "This agreement brings additional access to advanced care for cancer patients living in South Florida as well as a continuity of care for their patients as they travel to our community."

Physicians in both organizations will participate in weekly multidisciplinary patient case presentations and regular quality improvement reviews. Patients may choose to have their medical records shared between specialists at the two hospitals. Under the agreement, physicians practicing in the Holy Cross Hospital Michael and Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center will become non-clinical consultant members of the Massachusetts General Hospital medical staff.

"We are thrilled with the enhanced relationship we have now with Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale," said Dr. David P. Ryan, clinical director of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and chief of Hematology Oncology at Mass General. "This is our first integrated collaboration outside the New England area, and we could not have chosen a better partner for this new way of providing the world's best oncology care to our mutual patients."

dgehrke@sunsentinel.com or Twitter @donnagehrke

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More cancer trials, treatments for Holy Cross patients