Wake Forest Baptist Upgrades Radiation Oncology Facilities
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – March 7, 2011 – Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is upgrading its radiation oncology facilities, including its main campus and satellite facilities, to better serve patients and provide the most modern equipment and services available.
The upgrade is part of a long-term agreement between Wake Forest Baptist and Elekta and includes the acquisition of multiple radiation therapy treatment systems, electronic medical record (EMR) systems and clinical consulting services, as well as a reload of the Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ radiosurgery system. Also included are the Medical Center’s affiliated and owned cancer centers: Cancer Center of Davidson County at Lexington Memorial Hospital; Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital; and Caldwell Memorial Hospital.
Elekta develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow-enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.
“Based on our experience with the Elekta Axesse™ radiosurgery system, MOSAIQ® oncology information system, and technology vision, we believe Elekta is best suited to meet the hospital’s current and future radiation oncology technology needs,” says A. William Blackstock, Jr., MD, chair of Radiation Oncology at Wake Forest Baptist. “Since acquiring the Elekta Axesse, its body radiosurgery cases have tripled to more than 100 cases per year, comprising a variety of cancer sites throughout the body.”
The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report. It is one of only 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Elekta has a long-term relationship with Wake Forest Baptist as a provider of neurosurgery and oncology solutions and services.
“With our combined resources, we believe we can achieve our vision of creating an oncology information system to manage all our information needs, integrate with our hospital-wide EMR, improve our daily efficiency and enhance patient safety protocols,” said Domingo Valpuesta, business manager of Radiation Oncology at Wake Forest Baptist. “We value the consultative services Elekta is bringing to Wake Forest.”