UCSF Medical Center & Renown Institute for Cancer in Reno join forces to enhance local patient care

Released jointly by UCSF and Renown Health

Renown Institute for Cancer in Reno and the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, the two leading cancer programs in their regions, have joined forces to enhance patient care and improve access to top level medical experts.

This affiliation will bring a team of local and national experts together to offer patients the latest therapies and promising new treatments.

“The entire northern Nevada community will benefit from the expanded services,’’ said Linda Ferris, PhD, vice president of Renown Institute for Cancer.

“UCSF is one of the premier cancer centers in the world,’’ she said. “The center ranks first in California and seventh nationwide in National Cancer Institute research grants, and is home to pioneers in research into genetic, cellular and immune system causes and responses to cancer.”

Greg Boyer, CEO of Renown Regional Medical Center, said this collaboration emphasizes Renown’s commitment to providing world-class cancer care to patients.

“Treating a disease as complex as cancer requires an integration of skill, expertise and technology,’’ he said. “With this new collaboration, patients will be assured of the most advanced treatment available.’’ 

Through the affiliation, patients will enjoy access to clinical research trials and expedited referrals to cancer specialists. Among the new benefits:

Top-level experts: Patients in Nevada and California will have access to leading-edge expertise to ensure that difficult or unusual cases receive the best and most complete treatment available. Via joint cancer conferences, a team of medical practitioners, including physicians, surgeons, oncologists, clinical research nurses and genetic counselors, will discuss cancer cases to ensure that patients receive the most advanced treatment available. 

• Expedited services for transplants and other complex procedures: In the event that patients need to travel to UCSF Medical Center for treatments not available at Renown—such as bone marrow transplants—they can utilize a dedicated express referral line for appointments and treatments. Local patients needing care outside the area will receive expedited appointments.
• Expanded access to clinical trials: Starting Jan. 1, 2011, patients can access more than 275 clinical trials, ensuring access to leading-edge cancer treatments and options.
• Educational updates on the latest advances in cancer care: Renown and UCSF will host Continuing Medical Education lectures for area physicians and educational seminars for the community.

“This collaboration reflects UCSF’s mission to make its high-level health care broadly available to people in Nevada,’’ said Jay Harris, Chief Strategic Planning Officer for the UCSF Medical Center. “We anticipate that the affiliation will be highly beneficial to patients by providing them with specialty treatment at UCSF should they need highly advanced care that is not available locally.’’

About UCSF
UCSF Medical Center consistently ranks as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States. Recognized for innovative treatments, advanced technology, collaboration among clinicians and scientists, and a highly compassionate team of patient care providers, 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. For more information, visit www.ucsfhealth.org/.

The UCSF Helen Diller Family comprehensive Cancer Center was designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute in 1999 in recognition of the highest level of excellence in both its scientific research and its ability to integrate diverse research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer and improve patient outcomes.

About Renown Institute for Cancer
Renown Institute for Cancer was the region’s first hospital recognized by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for comprehensive cancer care for more than 23 years. Only 25 percent of hospitals meet the Commission’s rigorous standards.

Renown Institute for Cancer is the largest healthcare provider in the area conducting clinical trials with the National Cancer Institute. Leading northern Nevada in cancer research, Renown Institute for Cancer has administered more than 135 trials to 870 participants. www.renown.org/cancer.

Additional contact: Renown Health
Dan Davis P: 775-982-6370; M: 775-691-7308
1155 Mill Street-H8