Cancer patients in the center of our state have historically had to travel long distances for access to specialized cancer care. Those trips can be especially hard not only on patients, but family members as well. That barrier is now a thing of the past as Heartland Hematology and Oncology in Kearney becomes a part of the Nebraska Medicine health care network.  

The Heartland Hematology and Oncology name is well known to residents in that part of the state, and the doctors and staff who practice there are familiar faces to those in the area. Those faces will stay the same, as the only things that are changing are the name and access to the additional expertise of the Nebraska Medicine Hematology and Oncology team. 

The facility will now be called Nebraska Medicine Heartland Hematology and Oncology, and signs reflecting the change will be going up in the coming weeks.  

“We wanted a way to provide even more specialized cancer care to our patients in central Nebraska without having to send them three hours or more to Omaha. We believe our patients do best when they receive care close to home, family and friends,” says Cynthia Lewis, MD, hematologist/oncologist with the Kearney facility. “This partnership with Nebraska Medicine does that and more – allowing them to stay nearby, but also give them access to the experts and resources of the only NCI-Designated Cancer Center in the state at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.” 

“We’re so happy to be able to bring ‘Serious Medicine and Extraordinary Care’ to patients who in many cases would have to endure the rigors of a long car ride,” says Julie Vose, MD, hematologist/oncologist with Nebraska Medicine and an internationally-known expert in the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. “These same patients can now receive the same level of high-quality care from their familiar providers while being supported by a team of dedicated disease-specific cancer specialists from the state’s largest academic medical center. This means they have access to peer-reviewed tumor boards, virtual care options and comprehensive treatment all close to home.” 

“We plan to provide our new colleagues in Kearney with everything they need to make this a seamless transition,” says James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “We understand the trust they are putting in us by allowing us to become a part of their community and will do everything possible to make sure this new relationship is beneficial for both the staff there and their patients.” 

Nebraska Medicine Heartland Hematology and Oncology will now be the westernmost member of the Nebraska Medicine health care network and will serve as a resource for the thousands of residents living in nearby communities.