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The James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center was named a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The designation recognizes Wilmot's expertise and multidisciplinary cancer care.

Complex and rare cancers account for about 15 percent of new cancer cases each year, making it difficult for patients to locate or research facilities with oncologists or surgical teams that are experienced in treating these specific malignancies. The designation helps people with cancer make decisions about where to seek treatment.

"It's important that people in Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region have access to expert cancer care close to home even if the diagnoses are rare or unusual. We are committed to providing the highest quality multidisciplinary cancer care and are proud to hold this important designation," said Richard I. Fisher, M.D., director of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. The University of Rochester Medical Center is also a Blue Distinction Center for transplants.

Excellus recognizes facilities within its BlueCross BlueShield network that offer comprehensive inpatient cancer care programs for adults, delivered by multidisciplinary teams with subspecialty training and distinguished clinical expertise in treating complex and rare cancers including acute leukemia, bladder, bone, primary brain, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers as well as medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancers.

The designation recognizes Wilmot's commitment to providing multidisciplinary treatment planning and complex, major surgical treatments. Among other selection criteria, the Wilmot Cancer Center met the following requirements:

- Has multidisciplinary team input, including sub-specialty trained teams for complex and rare cancers and demonstrated depth of expertise across cancer disciplines in medicine, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology and radiology;
- Demonstrates ongoing quality management and improvement programs for cancer care;
- Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to using clinical data registries and providing access to appropriate clinical research for complex and rare cancers; and
- Demonstrates sufficient volume of experience in treating rare and complex cancers.

Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers were developed in strategic collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and input from a panel of leading clinicians and professional organizations.

To find our more, go to the University of Rochester Medical Center website - http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=1917

This information is reposted with thanks to the University of Rochester Medical Center.