Eight Spokane physicians have issued a public statement expressing their disappointment that a doctors group here called Spokane Oncology/Hematology Associates and Spokanes major hospitals failed to reach an agreement on the possible development of an area-wide outpatient cancer-treatment center.


This is a missed opportunity which we cannot allow to pass without comment, the doctors said in their statement, which was distributed in the Spokane County Medical Societys monthly newsletter. As physicians and citizens of Spokane County, we sincerely hope that the principals in this negotiation may yet find a way to do what is best for our community.


The doctors who signed the statement included all four of the officers of the medical society, as well as the chiefs of staff at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Jeff Clode; Valley Hospital & Medical Center, Doug Norquist; Deaconess Medical Center, Steven Beyersdorf; and Holy Family Hospital, Stephen Darling. The four medical society officers were: president, Thomas J. Allerding; president-elect, Bryan Fuhs; vice president, Rod Trytko; secretary-treasurer, Ryan Holbrook.


Allerding, who also is a physician with Pathology Associates PS, says that the doctors who signed the statement have been impressed by the medical communitys efforts in the past to develop an integrated system of health care, but were dismayed by the failed negotiations for the area-wide cancer center. They say that failure likely will result in unnecessary duplication of services, employment, and equipment.


Spokane Oncology/Hematology and its management company, Dallas-based Physician Reliance Network Inc., broke ground last week on a cancer-treatment facility near the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Sherman Street at the foot of Spokanes South Hill. Plans for the center, originally announced about a year ago, had been delayed while the doctors group negotiated with Spokanes major hospitals. Those negotiations were unfruitful.


Meanwhile, those major hospitals have resumed work on their own collaborative cancer-treatment centera plan they began working on even before the opportunity with Spokane Oncology/Hematology arose. The hospitals are preparing a business plan that initially would allow the four hospitals and a number of physicians to offer collaborative cancer care at several sites throughout the Spokane area, says Gerard Fischer, vice president of health-systems development at Sacred Heart.


Sacred Hearts Clode says, I just dont believe that its in anyones best interest to have two organizations building very expensive, redundant facilities. In my mind, Id like to see the organizations cooperate, rather than go into competitive mode, he says.


Our intent was to express concern, and our hope was that if there was any glimmering ember left, that it could be fanned back to life, he adds.


Dr. Turner Wood, a managing partner of Spokane Oncology/Hematology, said earlier this year that negotiations failed because of various reasons, including complications that arose in trying to work out arrangements for control of the private-nonprofit partnership.


What we see are two valued groups that are going to go toe-to-toe with one another, Allerding says. Were trying to be neutral in this because we really value both sides, but were also trying to get two friends to come back together and collaborate.


Spokane Oncology/Hematologys cancer center is expected to open by November next year. The center will provide chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and imaging and counseling services. It also will be equipped with a laboratory and pharmacy.


Meanwhile, exact locations for the hospitals center havent been determined yet, but the hospitals are looking for sites on Spokanes North Side, South Hill, and in the Spokane Valley. Later, they also hope to open sites elsewhere in the Inland Northwest, Fischer says.


He is working on a steering committee for the collaborative cancer center with Peg Currie, assistant vice president of patient care systems at Valley Hospital and Deaconess, and Tom Martin, vice president of Holy Family. The committee envisions that the cancer center will offer chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as educational and research programs and screening services. Each site also is expected to have videoconferencing, allowing a cancer patient at one site to interact with a surgeon or physician at another site.


A business plan outlining the hospitals planned cancer center is expected to be done by the end of this year.