To provide high-quality, evidence-based cancer care throughout South Dakota, Minnesota and other surrounding states, Avera Health and Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) announce a partnership to deploy MOSAIQ oncology information system across the Avera Cancer Institute.

This partnership will enable Avera to implement an integrated oncology health system that spans the full cancer care continuum, from prevention and screening through to palliation and recovery.

The agreement includes Elekta linear accelerators (Versa HD, Elekta Infinity), Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion, brachytherapy solutions, Monaco treatment planning and METRIQ cancer registry software. All of the software will be deployed through a cloud-based solution.

“Being chosen by comprehensive cancer networks, such as Avera Health, further demonstrates Elekta’s leadership in oncology information systems,” psays Jay Hoey, Elekta’s executive vice president of Region North America. “We are excited to be collaborating with this leader in cancer therapy.”

Dave Kapaska, DO, Regional president and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and administrative leader of the Avera Health cancer service line, says: “The Avera cancer service line is dedicated to providing research-based, technologically advanced, world-class care, wherever our patients and their families are located. This partnership will assist us to fulfill this vision by ensuring consistent high quality care across all Avera Cancer Institute locations. We are thrilled to have found a partner that shares our vision for integrated quality care.”

Dave Flicek, chief administrative officer for Avera Medical Group, says, “Through this partnership, Avera will be able to access a single patient record at any of our cancer centers and outreach locations. This ensures connectivity between cancer providers, chemotherapy and radiation therapy centers and cancer registries, as we offer our patients the highest level of cancer care in the region.”

“By choosing Elekta as our partner, we will be able to give our patients access to the world’s most advanced technology for treating cancer,” says Michael Peterson, MD, Radiation Oncologist with Avera Health. “Having both Versa HD and Perfexion provides superior capabilities for stereotactic treatment delivery, enabling us to perform treatments faster, with even greater precision.”

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and South Dakota, which has a population of about 850,000. The agreement will benefit Avera’s six regional locations and 40 outreach sites by driving further improvements in quality patient care.More than USD 20 million of the agreement was booked during Elekta’s second fiscal quarter.