County OKs cancer pact with institute

The Nevada Cancer Institute will provide all oncology and hematology services to University Medical Center patients starting next year.

The Clark County Commission on Tuesday approved a contract between NVCI, the state’s flagship cancer research institution, and UMC. The contract is effective Jan. 1 through 2010 with an automatic renewal for two additional years, officials said.

NVCI was awarded the contract, which went out for bid. The contract previously was held by Dr. John Ellerton.

Ellerton is also UMC’s chief of staff and had been medical director of the hospital’s oncology clinic earlier this year.

UMC has the state’s only Teaching Hospital Cancer Program, and all of NVCI’s physicians and researchers are faculty members at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

NVCI will work with UMC’s current oncology care team to transition the delivery of care. This transition will include Dr. Nicolas Vogelzang, director of the NVCI, taking over as director of UMC’s oncology clinic.

This new partnership is expected to increase opportunities for patients to access clinical trials, health officials said Tuesday.