UCSF and Enloe Medical Center in Chico Form Cancer Care Partnership

By Elizabeth Fernandez

Released jointly by UCSF and Enloe Medical Center

The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Enloe Medical Center in Chico have joined forces, forming an affiliation of cancer programs to enhance patient care and improve access to top level medical experts.

The affiliation, which began this month, is aimed at increasing cancer disease prevention and expanding access to high-quality, specialty treatment for residents of the region served by the Enloe Regional Cancer Center’s outpatient services, Enloe’s inpatient oncology unit and Enloe Hospice.

“Enloe already participates in approximately 30 clinical trials, and the UCSF affiliation will take our clinical trial access to the next level,’’ said Michael Baird, MD, executive director of the Enloe Regional Cancer Center.

UCSF is currently affiliated with three other cancer centers: Mercy Medical Center in Redding, St. Helena Hospital in St. Helena, and the Renown Institute for Cancer in Reno.

As is the case with the other regional hospitals, the affiliation provides Enloe’s medical staff with current information on UCSF’s clinical research trials and an expedited process for patients to be seen at UCSF and entered into trials. Another benefit will be joint tumor boards in which a multidisciplinary group of doctors will review and discuss, via videoconferencing, patient conditions and treatment options. Enloe and UCSF will also jointly develop annual educational sessions on cancer prevention and treatment for physicians, allied health professionals, cancer survivors and local individuals.

“Our new collaboration with Enloe reflects our mission to make high-level cancer care more broadly available throughout Northern California,’’ said Peter R. Carroll, MD, MPH, director of clinical services and strategic planning at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

UCSF Medical Center consistently ranks as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States. Recognized for innovative treatments, advanced technology, collaboration among health care professionals and scientists, and a highly compassionate patient care team, UCSF Medical Center serves as the academic medical center of the University of California, San Francisco. The medical center's nationally preeminent programs include children’s health, the brain and nervous system, organ transplantation, women’s health and cancer. It operates as a self-supporting enterprise within UCSF and generates its own revenues to cover the operating costs of providing patient care.

The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is a designated comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. The designation recognizes the highest level of excellence in both scientific research and its ability to integrate diverse research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer and improve patient outcomes.

Enloe Medical Center is a local, nonprofit health care organization. With affiliated medical staff, it provides a broad array of cancer treatment, including medical and surgical oncology, infusion therapy and radiation oncology.

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