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US Oncology Expands Relationship With the Sacramento Center for Hematology and Medical Oncology, Inc.

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 15:00 CST

HOUSTON, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- US Oncology, one of the nation's largest healthcare services networks dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment and research, has secured a comprehensive strategic alliance agreement with the Sacramento Center for Hematology and Medical Oncology, Inc. Effective January 1, the relationship will expand from a drug management and pharmacist support relationship to a comprehensive alliance providing the practice with more resources to support their delivery of high quality care to their patients. This is US Oncology's first comprehensive alliance in California.

With eight shareholder physicians, two part-time physicians and 43 employees, the Sacramento Center for Hematology and Medical Oncology (SCHMO) treats patients in the greater Sacramento area and surrounding counties who have the full spectrum of solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and non- malignant hematologic conditions. The practice's main office in downtown Sacramento, at the Sutter Cancer Center, is a state-of-the-art facility with full outpatient infusion services as well as access to surgical subspecialists and radiation oncology. Satellite offices are located in Davis and Marysville.

"We are delighted that Sacramento Center for Hematology and Medical Oncology has decided to expand its relationship with US Oncology and become our first comprehensive alliance in California," said Dale Ross, chairman and chief executive officer of US Oncology. "Their commitment to delivering the most advanced, comprehensive cancer care to patients and to advancing the development of new therapies through clinical research is in perfect alignment with the mission of our network."

US Oncology builds comprehensive strategic alliances with physicians by providing them with unparalleled access to best-in-class management services and support for their growing practices. These services include day-to-day non-medical business functions for the practice. In addition, the company funds, develops and helps manage comprehensive community-based cancer centers that integrate all aspects of outpatient patient care from laboratory and diagnostic imaging capabilities, to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

"Expanding our relationship with the US Oncology network makes a lot of sense in today's increasingly volatile reimbursement environment. Our new relationship will enable our practice to remain focused on providing high- quality and compassionate care to our patients while providing us with access to the vast resources available at US Oncology. We are confident that these resources will help us to withstand these external pressures and continue to operate successfully," said Dr. Robert Miller, President of the Sacramento practice.

About US Oncology, Inc.

US Oncology, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of the nation's largest healthcare services networks dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment and research. US Oncology provides extensive services and support to its affiliated cancer care sites nationwide to help them expand their offering of the most advanced treatments and technologies, build integrated community- based cancer care centers, improve their therapeutic drug management programs, and participate in many of the new cancer-related clinical research studies. US Oncology is affiliated with 985 physicians operating in 494 locations, including 97 radiation oncology facilities in 33 states.

US Oncology, Inc.

CONTACT: Kimberly Rutherford of US Oncology, Inc., +1-832-601-6193, orkimberly.rutherford@usoncology.com

Web site: http://www.usoncology.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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