Opelousas General Health System (OGHS) and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (Mary Bird Perkins) is celebrating the completion of an agreement to expand and enhance cancer care resources in the Greater Opelousas area, effective immediately. Through this partnership, Acadiana patients have convenient access to the team of cancer care specialists through Mary Bird Perkins. Cancer services will continue to be provided on OGHS’ South Campus, 3983 I-49 S. Service Rd.
Current OHGS staff members, including nurses, with an average of 15 years of oncology experience, continue to work at the Cancer Center. In addition, OGHS’ current cancer center is Commission on Cancer (CoC), accredited. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.
According to Jonas Fontenot, PhD, president and chief executive officer, Mary Bird Perkins, the partnership serves the missions of both organizations by emphasizing a strong focus on prevention, early detection, community outreach, and expert treatment.
“Opelousas General and Mary Bird Perkins share a passion for bringing high-quality patient care to communities where people live and work. We are proud to partner with OGHS in pursuit of our mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer,” said Fontenot.
St. Landry Parish has the highest cancer mortality rate in the Acadiana region and is in the top 10 parishes in Louisiana with the highest cancer mortality rate, according to the Louisiana Tumor Registry.
"Opelousas General Health System opened the doors of its first Cancer Center in 1988 and has been dedicated to providing this community with comprehensive cancer care services utilizing the latest technology in cancer treatment," said Kenneth Cochran, RN, DSc, FACHE, president and chief executive officer, Opelousas General Health System. "This partnership offers a sustained continuation of growth in the enhancement of those services and will have the biggest impact on our patients, which is ultimately why we continue to strive for better access to care."
Bryan Bienvenu, MD, and David Hanson, MD, Mary Bird Perkins, are now accepting patients at the OGHS campus. Both physicians are board-certified medical oncologists practicing with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and members of Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates (LHOA). Nurse practitioners Rachel Cunningham, FNP, Kasey Dunn, FNP, and Brittany Fortie, FNP, will continue to provide support for cancer patients at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Opelousas General Health System.