Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida Signs Contract with IBA to Install First Proton Therapy System in the Area
Baptist Health South Florida, South Florida’s largest not-for-profit healthcare system, announced today that it has signed an agreement with IBA, the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer. The agreement includes the purchase, installation and maintenance of a proton therapy system at Baptist Health’s Miami Cancer Institute, currently under construction. Proton therapy is an advanced treatment that beams radiation directly to the tumor to destroy cancer cells while avoiding healthy surrounding tissues.
IBA will equip Miami Cancer Institute with its Proteus®PLUS three-gantry room configuration, including next-generation Pencil Beam Scanning capability. The $80 million contract for combined equipment and services, including long-term operations and maintenance supplied by IBA, is part of Baptist Health’s $430 million investment in the future of cancer care with its state-of-the-art Miami Cancer Institute.
Miami Cancer Institute, scheduled to open in 2016, will consolidate under one roof outpatient clinical services, a dedicated cancer research facility and signature technology platforms, including the first proton therapy center in South Florida.It is expected to treat its first patient with proton therapy in 2017.
“Proton therapy will provide our team of oncologists another critical tool in the fight against cancer,” said Wayne Brackin, Chief Operating Officer of Baptist Health South Florida. “Patients and their families from around the world travel to Miami for our medical expertise. IBA’s Proteus®PLUS system will bring the latest technology to Miami Cancer Institute, reinforcing our commitment to clinical and service excellence.”
“IBA’s proton therapy technology has been used to treat more cancer patients than any other company in the world,” said Olivier Legrain, chief executive officer of IBA.“This extensive experience and knowledge of proton therapy treatment has allowed IBA to ensure that more patients are able to access this highly accurate form of cancer treatment. We are delighted to be enhancing our presence in North America and supporting Baptist Health South Florida’s Miami Cancer Institute to advance its vision of bringing proton therapy to more patients in the United States.”
About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in South Florida, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. Not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and also includes Baptist Heath Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellenc.
Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health is listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America (No. 23 in the nation) and has remained on the list for 15 years. It is also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fifth year in a row by Ethisphere Institute.
About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA’s proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal full scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room systems. In addition, IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry.
Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1100 people worldwide, IBA has installed systems across the world, from Europe and the US and to the emerging markets. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT. (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB) and more information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com
Contact: Dori Alvarez 786-596-3050; [email protected]