Yuma--Cancer patients will no longer have to travel outside the Yuma area for life saving treatment unless absolutely necessary.
On Tuesday, Yuma Regional Medical Center is opening the first of a kind Mayo Clinic to treat all cancer patients in the Desert Southwest.
YRMC's CEO Pat Walz recognizes people prefer to get their health care close to home.
With just a click of the mouse, Yuma doctors can get input on their cancer patient.
"It'll be thru telemedicine, where the physician on the other end will be able to see the patient if there's any blood work...they'll have that in front of them," Walz said.
For cancer patients, traveling for treatment could cause stress.
Walz said staying close to home, it will help eliminate anxiety that could cause more harm to the body.
"Unless there's some reason for one or two treatments up at Mayo...sometimes with a particular drug they need to see the reactions," Walz said.
The online tools offer Yuma doctors the latest research and cancer treatment recommendations.
"We would like to spread it to the rest of the hospital if appropriate but right now its starting with the cancer program," he said.
YRMC's collaboration with Mayo Clinic will be free of charge to patients.
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