Mobile-based Infirmary Health recently added Rodney Rocconi, MD to their cancer care team as Associate Director and Director of Research. With the appointment, Rocconi will practice in Mobile with Infirmary Cancer Care (ICC), while also serving as professor of gynecologic oncology at UAB, the only National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in Alabama.
"This dual appointment will allow me to serve in a leadership role at ICC as well as enhance cancer clinical trials to collectively provide the best care possible for all cancer patients in the Gulf Coast region," Rocconi says. With his arrival, ICC will provide its patients with a top-tier gynecologic oncology program.
Rocconi brings with him a productive research career supported by numerous NIH/NCI, DOD, PCORI, and foundation grants focused on clinical trials and translational research, along with research awards, national leadership positions, and seven co-patents in diagnosing and treating ovarian cancer.
This placement in Mobile of a noteworthy UAB cancer researcher represents the most recent step in the clinical partnership formed in 2018 between UAB and Infirmary Health, which brought together two of the largest health care providers in the state.
"This affiliation extends the clinical expertise and medical research capabilities of UAB to southwest Alabama," says Mark Nix, president and CEO of Infirmary Health, the region's leading healthcare provider. "Together, these two organizations will bring UAB clinical trials and research to patients currently served by Infirmary Health."
UAB had been seeking a clinical partner in the Mobile Bay region for years. Infirmary Health fit their mission and aims. The largest non-governmental healthcare system in the state, the Infirmary system represents more than 700 active physicians on their medical staff and 6,000 employees. Started by civic-minded ladies 111 years ago, the nonprofit organization now serves the region with four acute care hospitals, three post-acute care facilities, three ambulatory surgical centers, and more than 60 physician practice locations.
The collaboration improves access for southwest Alabama patients to certain procedures performed at UAB, such as in cancer and transplantation, that are not available elsewhere in the state. It will also allow these patients to continue the bulk of their medical care nearer home, alleviating costly and stressful travel or short-term relocation.
As part of the affiliation, UAB will create exposure to potential medical residency positions and rotations at Infirmary Health. "Opportunities to train UAB medical school graduates at Infirmary facilities will create access to more physicians throughout our region for years to come," Nix says. With more residents training in the Mobile Bay area, more physicians may choose to remain in the state, especially with exposure to a coastal lifestyle. The link between UAB and community physicians also increases opportunities for collaboration on patient care.
UAB's CEO at the time, William Ferniany said: "to really impact health, you need partners near the people you are serving." Partnering with Infirmary Health expanded the University Health System to a statewide network that now consists of 19 owned, managed, and affiliated hospitals in 12 Alabama counties. "These hospitals, like the hospitals in Infirmary Health System," Ferniany said, "are partners to work together to leverage the resources of UAB to improve care."
The collaboration shares more than expertise and opportunities. It brings a $4 billion combined annual budget to the buying table, with Infirmary adding 25 percent to that total. Prices drop on supplies and equipment when negotiating bulk pricing to cover the needs of multiple hospitals statewide. "You might not get a reduced bill today, but in the long run what that should do is slow the rate of the cost increase," says Nix.
Along with cost savings, the alliance offers both health systems areas of expansion, including telehealth access to UAB experts for Infirmary Health patients, telemedicine consultations between physicians, and greater access to participation in clinical trials and research.
"The opportunities this affiliation brings to southwest Alabama are significant and almost limitless," Nix says. "Healthcare organizations pooling resources and working together to improve care and control costs is the future of healthcare."
