Parker Hughes to suspend clinical operations

Patients at the embattled cancer center must now find new clinics and doctors because the Roseville facility's only oncologist is leaving.

By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY and TIM HARLOW , Star Tribune

Last update: February 22, 2008 - 11:09 PM

The troubled Parker Hughes Cancer Center is losing its only cancer doctor, and some 500 patients will have to scramble to find new clinics.

Parker Hughes officials told patients in a letter this week that it is forced to suspend clinical operations because oncologist Dr. Sanda Morar has accepted a job in Illinois. Without an oncologist, Parker Hughes will suspend patient care effective March 14, said Nancy Dvorak, chief operating officer of the Roseville clinic.

She said the clinic is looking for a new doctor, and several interviews are already scheduled.

"We want to accomplish this as quickly as possible, in a matter of weeks to months," she said. In the meantime the clinic staff will do everything it can to help patients find cancer clinics in the Twin Cities area, she said.

It is another setback for Parker Hughes, which only seven months ago emerged from bankruptcy reorganization.

"It's a tragic loss for the community," said Bob Spande, 61, of Bloomington, who heads a support group for Parker Hughes patients.

Spande's group of about 100 Parker Hughes patients and family members has rallied behind the embattled founder of Parker Hughes, Dr. Fatih Uckun.

In December Uckun won back his right to practice medicine in a limited capacity that prevents him from treating patients at Parker Hughes. Uckun agreed to the restrictions after a protracted, 22-month investigation by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. In the end, the board said that he had misused advertising and that he misled patients and the public about the usefulness of some drug sensitivity and drug resistance tests.

In its public order restricting Uckun's license, the board did not address some of the other allegations reported by the Star Tribune in 2003, and which were part of the board's investigation, including unnecessary treatment, kickback demands and exorbitant charges.

Uckun had previously denied any wrongdoing. Without admitting fault, the clinic did agree to pay $150,000 to the federal government to settle a false-claims lawsuit that alleged the clinic had overbilled the Medicare program.

According to the agreement Uckun signed with the medical board, he can only practice in a clinic that employs multiple doctors and that is approved by the board. He also must take educational classes, work with a medical supervisor and pay a $70,000 civil penalty.

"The clinic itself will be sorely missed because of what has happened," said Spande. "The board has not allowed the founder to go back there."

Rob Leach, executive director of the medical practice board, said that at this point "to the best of my knowledge" Uckun is not practicing medicine. Uckun's attorney referred questions to Dvorak of Parker Hughes, who said she could not comment on whether Uckun plans to practice.

She also said she could not estimate what impact the suspension of operations would have on the clinic's finances. That would depend, she said, on how soon it can find an oncologist.

Patients were directed to contact the Masonic Cancer Clinic at the University of Minnesota, Regions Hospital in St. Paul, North Memorial Medical Center's Hubert H. Humphrey Cancer Center branch in Fridley, and the Maplewood Cancer Center.

"We are making every accommodation to be sure there is no interruption in their care," said Sue Nordberg, patient administrator for the Maplewood Cancer Center. Nordberg said an e-mail went to all eight of its facilities to alert staff that new patients would be calling to schedule appointments. The clinics have received several calls from Parker Hughes patients, she said.

Officials from other clinics said they could absorb the patients easily.

Josephine Marcotty • 612 673 7394

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