Questions of trust, competition arise in light of Mercy’s cancer center announcement

One community leader is calling Mercy Medical Center's cancer project as “tantamount to a declaration of war.”

“The medical arms race that is now seemingly inevitable (is) a race this community can't afford,” Pat Baird, retired AEGON USA president/CEO, wrote in an e-mail that has been widely circulated.

On Wednesday, Mercy leaders announced plans to build a $10.7 million Destination Cancer Center, which will connect to the hospital's Hall Radiation Center near Tenth Street and Fifth Avenue SE.

Mercy's goals are to offer the center as a regional destination that brings all components of cancer care under one roof.

Some Cedar Rapids leaders who have discussed creating a community cancer center for two years, however, were disappointed in Mercy's announcement.

Baird,  one of the leaders in the community cancer center discussion, wrote that the trust between the group was broken by Mercy.

Mercy President/CEO Tim Charles, who has been involved in those same discussions, said the most cost-effective approach builds off existing resources and avoids duplication.

“Mercy and our partners understand there are individuals who are frustrated with the decision to move forward with a destination cancer center,” Charles wrote in a statement. “However, we've seen an overwhelmingly positive response from many physicians, business leaders, patients, and families directly touched by cancer. This strengthens our resolve to realize the community's vision for a destination cancer center. “

Charles noted that Mercy's vision aligns with “Triple Aim” guidelines of controlling costs, ensuring a patient-centered experience and delivering high quality healthcare.

Baird suggested withdrawing from that new Triple Aim initiative to which Cedar Rapids was invited to participate by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Also in the e-mail, Baird suggested asking University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to collaborate in cancer treatment for the Cedar Rapids area.

Jean Robillard, UI vice president for medical affairs, earlier this month said University of Iowa Health Care has not been approached by anyone regarding potential collaboration in Cedar Rapids.

Dr. Jim Levett, chief medical officer for Physicians' Clinic of Iowa, who has also been in the community cancer center discussions, said he would not suggest withdrawing from the Triple Aim initiative.

The community still needs to look at the initiative's goals of improving the care of individual patients; looking at the population's health and containing costs, he said.

Levett also said he does not agree with the idea to collaborate with the UI, unless it was for related care that Cedar Rapids did not offer, such as transplant surgery.

“I don't believe we would want the university involved in a major way with cancer (care) delivery in this community,” he said.

Levett noted that he was not speaking for PCI's board.

Some have suggested the disagreement between the two hospitals and PCI is about competition.

PCI has plans to build a new medical mall that Charles said could siphon away business from the hospitals.

St. Luke's Hospital is assembling land that will be leased for PCI's medical mall.

Ted Townsend, president and CEO of St. Luke's, said the issue isn't competition.

“It's not about grabbing more (business,)” he said. “It should be about a way to work together.”

Charles said that Mercy's planned cancer center should be the community's cancer center, but Townsend said it is important to involve both hospitals and more physicians.

Baird, who is not a board member of either hospital, could not be reached for further comment today.