MD Anderson / EJGH Affiliation

In 2008, East Jefferson General Hospital became the first hospital in Louisiana to earn affiliate status with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Ranked by US News & World Report as the "Number One Cancer Fighting Center in America", MD Anderson represents the ultimate levels of care. Affiliation brings many benefits to the patients we serve but in its simplest terms, we believe affiliation gives us and select EJGH doctors the best tools to help our patients win their battle against cancer.

In becoming an affiliate, EJGH raised the bar of cancer care in this region. Our regional cancer center now treats more patients than ever before. Our outcomes are now graded alongside those of MD Anderson's to ensure our outcomes and processes meet their strict guidelines. While many of our advancements are not visible to the casual observer, others are. We have asserted ourselves as leaders in patient-centric care with innovations like digital mammography that is available during weekday and weekend hours and extended fast-track and evening hours in our outpatient infusion center. We have created a Cancer Wellness Program that is a wonderful disease management tool for current patients and a great preventive tool for others.

According to the Director of Oncology Services at East Jefferson General Hospital, Mattie Hobley, RN, "Earning Affiliate status was not only a testament to our excellence at the time, it means we are committed to continued improvement and aiding in the MD Anderson mission statement, to make cancer history.

Affiliation Built Around Physicians

Affiliation with MD Anderson means EJGH physicians, who play a primary role in fighting cancer, can apply to become members of the MD Anderson Physicians Network. As a member of that network, these credentialed doctors gain access to the latest evidence-based treatment protocols used at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. These credentialed physicians can consult with MDA colleagues on the best treatment pathways for particular patients. However, we believe the greatest benefit to affiliation is that many patients from this region can now access more effective treatments they once drove to Texas to obtain.

One-On-One Care

If you asked our patients to name the greatest addition to our cancer care that has emerged since affiliation, they would probably name our Cancer Care Navigator, Debbie Schmitz, RN. As Navigator, Debbie works with cancer patients and their families to be a one-on-one resource for every detail associated with their care from the time of diagnosis until after they have been named a survivor. Every day, she helps patients coordinate their multiple appointments, explains clinical terms & procedures and works to remove the doubt and unknown aspects of care so patients and their care teams can just concentrate on getting well.

Moving Forward

Today, EJGH stands as a premiere regional cancer fighting center. In addition to more than 40 doctors who are now members of the MD Anderson Physicians Network, we continue to attract dedicated cancer-fighting nurses, physicians and technologies that put us in the best possible position to help our patients win the fight of their lives.