University of Rochester Medical Center and Pluta Cancer Center Announce Intention to Explore Merger
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and Pluta Cancer Center (PCC) today announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding as the first step in a process that could lead to a merger that each said would benefit cancer patients in the greater Monroe County area.
“Pluta has a richly deserved reputation for high quality, patient-centered care,” said URMC CEO Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D. “In turn, the Wilmot Cancer Center at URMC provides access to leading edge treatments, research and promising clinical trials. The proposed partnership would enable us to leverage the strengths of both organizations to provide more comprehensive, higher quality care to patients in our community. “
Kelly McCormick-Sullivan, Pluta Cancer Center president and CEO, said “If our joint expectations come to fruition, it will be a positive relationship for all, most especially our patients. They would continue to be treated by the same clinical staff, including physicians, nurses and radiation therapists at our Center’s current location while gaining easier access to the University’s state-of-the-art research, new technology and clinical trials.”
Officials from URMC and Pluta estimate that a formal agreement could take a number of months to finalize. Both organizations are involved in a process of due diligence and the proposed merger would be subject to regulatory approval.
One of the nation’s top academic medical centers, the University of Rochester Medical Center forms the centerpiece of the University’s health research, teaching, patient care, and community outreach missions. Its anchor is Strong Memorial Hospital, a teaching hospital designated by the New York State Department of Health as a Level One Regional Trauma and Burn Center and home to Western New York’s only Heart Transplant Program. URMC’s delivery network also includes Highland Hospital and its affiliated nursing homes, F.F. Thompson Hospital and its affiliates, Eastman Dental Center, the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group, and Visiting Nurse Service. URMC’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, a state-of-the-art, comprehensive inpatient/outpatient facility, is the region’s leader in cancer care and research.
Pluta Cancer Center is a Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certified practice. Established at Genesee Hospital in 1975 by a grant from the Pluta family, the Center is now located at 125 Red Creek Drive in Henrietta, N.Y. Pluta Cancer Center provides compassionate care through a personalized, patient-centered approach that empowers patients and their families. The Center offers the latest in radiation therapy technology, chemotherapy treatment and provides massage therapy, yoga, tai chi, support groups, and nutrition counseling in a friendly, intimate environment. For more information, visit www.PlutaCancerCenter.org.