Beaufort Memorial Hospital — in partnership with Alliance Oncology, a division of Alliance HealthCare Services, and the Medical University of South Carolina Health System (MUSC Health) — will officially open its new Keyserling Cancer Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Beaufort Medical Plaza, bringing all of the hospital’s cancer services under one roof.
Relocated from Port Royal, the new cancer center will make it more convenient for patients to navigate the complex journey from cancer diagnosis to treatment. In addition to medical and radiation oncology, the center will offer easy access to lab, imaging, infusion and breast health services.
“We’re excited about the many benefits the new center provides to the community,” said Beaufort Memorial President & CEO Russell Baxley. “Now that we’ve consolidated services in one location we can focus on adding access to sub-specialists, support services and more to our cancer program.”
The new joint venture expands the collaboration BMH has had with MUSC, providing expertise in sub-specialties not available in Beaufort. Initiated in 2016, the affiliation with the National Cancer Institute-designated Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC has allowed BMH patients to participate in groundbreaking clinical trials studying promising new cancer drugs and treatments.
Thanks to its new partnership with Alliance Oncology, BMH was able to upgrade to the state-of-the-art TrueBeam radiotherapy system, one of the most powerful and precise radiation therapy delivery systems available.
“We’re now offering the same advanced technology and protocols available at leading cancer centers,” said board-certified radiation oncologist Jonathan Briggs, M.D., Medical Director of Radiation Oncology Services. “It makes it so much easier for patients when they can receive their treatment close to home.”
The new Beaufort Memorial Keyserling Cancer Center is located next to the hospital in the three-story Beaufort Medical Plaza at 989 Ribaut Road. The first floor of the center includes radiation oncology, chemotherapy/infusion services, imaging and the Breast Health Center, in addition to the office of Dr. Briggs. The outpatient laboratory is on the second floor, and the office of board-certified medical oncologist Dr. Mark Newberry is on the third floor.
Board-certified medical oncologist Dr. Majd Chahin, chief investigator for the clinical trials program, will continue to see patients in his office at 1680 Ribaut Road in Port Royal.
Like its predecessor, the bright, spacious on-campus center makes inspired use of the healing arts in its design and furnishings. The large, transporting Lowcountry images of photographer Will Gresham are featured throughout.
Named in honor of physician Herbert Keyserling, who served on the Beaufort Memorial Hospital medical staff for more than 50 years, the Keyserling Cancer Center opened in 2006 offering a team approach to cancer care. Accredited as a Community Cancer Program, it received Accreditation with Commendation — the highest level of endorsement — from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer in 2016 for providing patients with high-quality, coordinated care from the time they are diagnosed to the end of treatment.
The new Beaufort Memorial Keyserling Cancer Center takes the team approach to a new level with both core and ancillary cancer services now in one building, enhancing the multidisciplinary model that has shown to improve outcomes.
In the coming year, Beaufort Memorial’s general surgeons will relocate their offices to the building, allowing them to more seamlessly coordinate care with the rest of the cancer team. In addition, the hospital plans to open a second cancer center in its soon-to-be-constructed Bluffton Medical Campus near Okatie Crossing. The facility is expected to open in 2020.
To learn more about the Beaufort Memorial Keyserling Cancer Center, visit beaufortmemorial.org or call 843-522-7800.
