Cedar Rapids, IA., : As of January 1, 2009, Iowa Blood and Cancer Care will join the multi-specialty medical group, Physicians' Clinic of Iowa.

Treating patients with cancer requires access to multiple medical specialists. In the past, each office functioned independently with the only common thread being the patient. The combination of many specialists under one organizational umbrella, creates the opportunity to create a less fragmented, more efficient, and more patient oriented cancer care experience.

"This is a huge step forward for the delivery of quality cancer care in our region. This merger will allow us to provide a more comprehensive and streamlined delivery of health care in many areas," said Michael Sundall, CEO of Physicians' Clinic of Iowa.

"Our scope of services has been growing since Iowa Blood & Cancer Care (IBACC) was founded in 2002. Joining PCI will allow us to serve our patients better, with improved access to quality health care. This merger will solidify a shared philosophy of "always putting the patient first," said Chirantan Ghosh, M.D. FACP, the founder of IBACC.

Iowa Blood and Cancer Care is an Oncology / Hematology specialty group that focuses on the diagnosis, care and treatment of people with cancer and / or diseases of the blood. The organization includes five
Board Certified physicians, five mid-level providers and numerous professional medical and business personnel. The practice operates at 855 A Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 and will continue to serve patients from this location. More information about IBACC can be gained at www.ibacc.org.

Services available to IBACC patients include on-site chemotherapy infusions, an on-site counselor, dietary counseling, massage therapy, and comprehensive patient / family education. IBACC is eastern Iowa's only dedicated cancer practice with in-house PET/CT facilities. IBACC also provides access to innovative gene-targeted therapies, cell based therapies and vaccine research options, through affiliation with Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center.

Physicians' Clinic of Iowa is a multi-specialty physicians group. Specialties include Oncology and Hematology, General surgery, Cardiovascular surgery, Urology, ENT, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Neurology and Rheumatology. Additional areas of expertise include physical therapy, hand therapy, cosmetic surgery and hand surgery. The group currently operates from four locations in the Cedar Rapids area and additional outreach locations throughout eastern Iowa. More information about the group can be found at www.pcofiowa.com.