Hospitals and physician groups across Kansas and western Missouri are eligible to become MCA members. The MCA is comprised of different membership categories: Community Partner, Clinical Research Partner, Major Clinical Research Partner, and Partners Advisory Board member.

Cancer support, advocacy, industry, and government organization membership levels are in development. Please contact MCA Executive Director Hope Krebill at hkrebill@kumc.edu or 913-588-3739 if your organization is interested in learning more about becoming an MCA member.

There are numerous benefits to joining the MCA for hospital administrators, oncologists, primary care physicians, and cancer care professionals.

HOSPITALS MAY RECEIVE:

• Increased visibility and recognition as a center doing research
• Greater patient retention, which benefits market share growth
• Enhanced ability to recruit and retain outstanding cancer physicians, nurses, and support staff
• Access to network IRB, which reduces administrative burden for clinical trials
• Additional support and resources to enhance community outreach, marketing, and public relations
• Additional patient and community services such as psychosocial services, tobacco cessation, and survivorship programs

ONCOLOGISTS MAY RECEIVE:

• Increased access to innovative clinical trials
• Enhanced network of research and clinical oncologists
• Increased access to consultative services and second opinions
• Access to the latest evidence-based guidelines
• Continuing medical education opportunities

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS MAY RECEIVE:

• Increased access to consultative services and second opinions
• Access to the latest evidence-based guidelines for cancer screenings
• Continuing medical education opportunities
• Increased access to innovative clinical trials
• Enhanced network of research and clinical oncologists
• Additional patient and community services such as tobacco cessation and survivorship programs

 CANCER CARE PROFESSIONALS MAY RECEIVE:

• Expanded network of cancer care professionals working together
• Increased access to comprehensive cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and care information and resources
• Latest information on cancer care
• Improved usage of regional cancer data
• Increased opportunities to expand knowledge base
• Continuing cancer care education opportunities
• Additional resources such as psychosocial services, tobacco cessation, and survivorship programs

• Advances comprehensive treatment locally
• Offers multidisciplinary care for every diagnosis
• Enables immediate state-of-the-art care to patients for whom standard therapy has failed
• Improves access to cancer screening and prevention
• Provides survivorship resources

• Helps attract and retain top oncology trained talent eager to provide advanced treatment in rural areas
• Improves access to cancer screenings and prevention resources
• Provides opportunities for participation in support programs

A core principle of the MCA is to facilitate advanced treatment for patients with cancer as close to home as possible. In many cases, oncologists affiliated with MCA Clinical Research Partners will have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and treatment protocols at their location.

The MCA expects all member organizations to help support the collaborative nature of the Alliance by contributing constructive ideas and feedback. Each member identifies a contact person for their institution. Dues must be paid by June 30th each year to remain a member in good standing. MCA Clinical Research Partners are expected to participate in and actively enroll patients on clinical trials.

Cancer doesn't stop at the state line. There are many residents in western Missouri who also benefit from a relationship with The University of Kansas Cancer Center. In addition, including regional hospitals and oncology groups in the MCA broadens the expertise of the network and enhances collaboration.

Anyone interested in MCA membership may contact MCA Executive Director Hope Krebill at 913-588-3739 or hkrebill@kumc.edu. The interested organization should name a point of contact to work with the MCA throughout the approval process. To become a member in good standing, the prospective organization must sign a contract and pay the respective annual dues. A site visit must also be completed to assess the clinical trials infrastructure before the membership process is finalized for Clinical Research Partners or Partners Advisory Board members.