Haematological tumour board strengthens cancer care in Lower Austria
Mit der Präsentation des ersten standortübergreifenden hämatologischen Tumorboards in Niederösterreich wurde ein wichtiger Schritt für die Versorgung von Patient mit Blutkrebserkrankungen gesetzt. Langfristiges Ziel ist ein landesweites Tumorboard-Netzwerk, das allen Krebspatient:innen in Niederösterreich Zugang zur besten Therapie und medizinische Versorgung gewährleisten soll.
With the presentation of the first cross-location haematological tumour board in Lower Austria, an important step was taken in the care of patients with blood cancers. The long-term goal is a state-wide tumour board network that will guarantee all cancer patients in Lower Austria access to the best therapy and medical care.
With the haematological tumour board, patients with blood cancers are to be recommended the best therapy and treatment options by a cross-site panel of experts at the University Hospitals Krems and St. Pölten, both teaching and research sites of KL Krems, as well as the University Hospital Wiener Neustadt.
Prim. Prof. Dr Josef Singer, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine 2 at Krems University Hospital (KL Krems), emphasised the central importance of this new format: "The tumour board makes it possible to make the bundled expertise in the field of haematological diseases accessible to all patients - regardless of where the initial diagnosis was made. "Every haematological patient in Lower Austria is discussed in the tumour board - that's already over 800 patients. The aim is to ensure that all those affected have access to all available treatment options in the province and that an individually tailored treatment plan is created," says Singer.
The haematological tumour board was officially presented last week by Provincial Councillor Anton Kasser and Elisabeth Bräutigam, Head of the Lower Austrian Provincial Health Agency, together with representatives of the participating clinics. The University Hospitals Krems and St. Pölten, both teaching and research centres of KL Krems, as well as the University Hospital Wiener Neustadt are involved.
As Provincial Councillor Anton Kasser emphasised, around 45,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year throughout Austria, around 9,000 of them in Lower Austria. Behind every diagnosis is not only a personal fate, but also a major challenge for society and the healthcare system. At the same time, modern oncology is opening up more and more treatment options that can give people valuable time to live.
All seven oncology centres in Lower Austria - St. Pölten, Wiener Neustadt, Krems, Mistelbach, Horn, Amstetten and Baden-Mödling - already offer medical care at a high level. With the new tumour board, this expertise is now also being bundled. "This is also in line with the objectives of the Lower Austrian health plan," says Provincial Councillor Kasser.
Elisabeth Bräutigam emphasised that every Lower Austrian should have access to cutting-edge medicine and the same opportunities and possibilities, regardless of where they live. The haematological tumour board is the first milestone in the further expansion of the Lower Austrian tumour board network. Lung and neuro-oncology are planned as the next areas.
The new haematological tumour board will further expand cross-location cooperation in cancer medicine. For the Karl Landsteiner Private University, this once again emphasises the close connection between university medicine, research and clinical practice in Lower Austria.
