Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, has announced a 10-year agreement with Ballad Health to enhance oncology treatment services for patients in rural communities across the Appalachian Highlands, including Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, northwestern North Carolina, and southeastern Kentucky.
This transformative collaboration aims to deliver advanced treatment technology through a comprehensive digital network, streamlining the patient journey from screening to survivorship.
Arthur Kaindl, Head of Varian, stated, “As part of Siemens Healthineers, Varian is committed to expanding access to world-class care for everyone, everywhere. We’re excited to support Ballad Health in implementing advanced radiotherapy solutions, equipping care teams with the technology needed to provide exceptional patient care.”
This agreement is among the largest in Varian’s history and includes a portfolio of products and services designed to create a unified oncology ecosystem. By utilizing Varian’s Aria Core oncology management solution and the Executive Partnership program, Ballad Health care teams will gain enhanced visibility into patient data, facilitating more personalized care.
To optimize the implementation of this technology, Ballad Health staff and clinicians will utilize Varian’s Advanced Oncology Solutions (AOS) Professional Services for operational support and consulting throughout the duration of the agreement. The AOS team will also assist with medical physics and dosimetry services.
Alan Levine, Ballad Health Chairman and CEO, commented, “This agreement underscores our evolution as a care delivery leader in rural areas, making advanced care accessible for the communities we serve. This investment, alongside other capital projects, positions Ballad Health as a top choice in healthcare for patients, team members, and clinicians.”
Varian has collaborated with facilities within Ballad Health—a not-for-profit health system comprising 20 hospitals and a large multi-specialty physician practice—for over 25 years. This new decade-long partnership includes the installation of eight TrueBeam linear accelerators and one Ethos adaptive radiotherapy system across six sites in Tennessee and Virginia, accelerating the adoption of newer linear accelerator technology.
The Aria Core system, which is cloud-based, will replace various separate systems, offering a comprehensive view of patient information. The Varian Executive Partnership program will facilitate the implementation of consistent workflows and provide actionable data insights. Additionally, upgrades to the Eclipse treatment planning platform will enable advanced planning capabilities, ensuring tighter control and higher quality plans.
Under the agreement, Varian will also develop a technology roadmap to help Ballad Health adapt to future advancements, allowing for flexibility in system configurations and installation timelines as market needs evolve. Varian will further support Ballad Health with market analytics and gap analyses to guide informed technology decisions.
