Congratulations to Lawrence Memorial Hospital trustees for their decision to have the hospital pursue membership in the Midwest Cancer Alliance. It would be a positive move for the hospital to join the alliance, which would connect LMH with the Kansas University Cancer Center’s clinical trials.

This alliance includes Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka and Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, along with the St. Luke’s Health System and Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City. The collaborative cancer research effort is bound to broaden clinical trials as well as focus on what can be done to improve the care of cancer patients. It’s a winning program in every respect.

In addition to joining the alliance, LMH also should develop a working relationship with KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Such ties would pay dividends for LMH patients and could help the hospital deal with the challenging economic conditions facing all hospitals.

KU Hospital is recognized as the best overall hospital in this region, and there would be many benefits from having a closer working relationship between it and LMH.