DeKalb Times

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Approved as a Children’s Oncology Group Affiliate Member Institution

 Children’s Oncology Group (COG) recently approved Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital as an affiliate member institution through the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

The distinction is an expansion of the current COG status, and it allows pediatric hematology and oncology specialists at Central DuPage Hospital to provide eligible patients and families with the opportunity to enroll in the latest clinical trials and therapies, including trials that involve investigational drugs.

“The distinction as an affiliate member institution with COG is very important to patients and their families seeking clinical trials in the western suburbs,” said Ammar Hayani, MD, pediatric hematologist and oncologist, Lurie Children’s at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Patients no longer have to travel long distances in order to receive this specialized care. This is not only more convenient for families but also safer for the patients.”

Pediatric hematology and oncology specialists at Central DuPage Hospital provide comprehensive care for children and adolescents with a wide range of cancers and blood diseases. Using a family-centered, multidisciplinary approach to care, specialists help young patients return to a life focused on the future.

Specialized services available to pediatric hematology/oncology patients ranging from newborns to young adults at Central DuPage Hospital include: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, transfusions, coagulation replacement therapy and minimally invasive surgery. Should hospitalization be necessary, patients benefit from the 24-hour onsite coverage provided by Lurie Children’s hospitalists and critical care specialists in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Units at Central DuPage Hospital.

COG is the world leader in pediatric oncology research. The vast majority of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. are cared for at COG member institutions.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital offers leading-edge and compassionate specialty care to families in Chicago's west suburbs. This unique program offers access to Lurie Children’s physicians in 35 specialties at outpatient centers throughout the west suburbs.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.

Original source can be found here