Continued support for ACS Hope Lodge program provides free lodging for cancer patients and frontline workers
PHILADELPHIA – February 16, 2021 – Proscia®, a leading provider of digital and computational pathology solutions, has extended its commitment as a Partner Against Cancer with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to advance the companies’ shared goal of improving patient outcomes. As a Partner Against Cancer, Proscia will continue to support the ACS Hope Lodge program, which provides free lodging for patients and their caregivers when the best hope for effective treatment may be in another city.
Almost 1.9 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year.* Some patients will experience the best outcomes with access to therapies that might only be available at medical centers located far from their homes. ACS established the Hope Lodge program to provide free, temporary lodging for these patients in more than 30 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. Last spring, ACS made the heartbreaking decision to suspend traditional lodging operations for cancer patients at the start of the pandemic, and immediately offered the facilities as free housing for frontline health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients.
Announced in December 2019, Proscia became a Partner Against Cancer in support of the ACS Hope Lodge program. Proscia’s contributions to date have covered 600 nights in free housing, providing a nurturing environment for cancer patients and their caregivers, and more recently, frontline workers. In addition to continuing to offset hotel costs, Proscia’s ongoing pledge will go toward renovating and preparing Hope Lodge for patients to return safely in 2021.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with ACS at a time when taking on the fight against cancer is more critical than ever,” said David West, CEO of Proscia. “The patient remains the driving force behind our mission of perfecting cancer diagnosis, and we look forward to joining ACS in welcoming them back to Hope Lodge. We also commend ACS’ efforts to help the heroes on the front lines of COVID and are proud to support them in our small way.”
COVID has also led to an anticipated gap in cancer screening and treatment. Beyond preparing Hope Lodge for patients to return, ACS is focused on addressing this gap, which includes launching a “Back to Screening” campaign to help the public understand the importance of screening and address the barriers that limit screening adherence.
For its part, Proscia is helping laboratories get up-and-running quickly with digital pathology. Digital pathology helps to accelerate accurate diagnosis while serving as the only practical means by which laboratories can operate remotely amid social distancing requirements.
“Cancer never slowed down during the pandemic, and the American Cancer Society has been there to assist isolated and anxious cancer patients,” said Anthony Marino, executive vice president for the Northeast Region. “We are grateful to have found an ally in Proscia that shares our commitment to cancer prevention, screening & early detection, access to high-quality treatment, and patient support.”
About Proscia
Proscia is a software company that is changing the way the world practices pathology to transform cancer research and diagnosis. With the company’s Concentriq digital pathology platform and pipeline of AI-powered applications, laboratories are leveraging new kinds of data to accelerate discoveries and improve patient outcomes. Proscia’s team of technologists, scientists, and pathologists is bringing a fresh approach to an outdated industry, helping the world to keep pace with the increasing demand for pathology services and fulfill the promise of precision diagnostics. For more information, visit proscia.com.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information, go to http://www.cancer.org.
*Cancer Facts & Figures 2021 (American Cancer Society)
