UCSF and St. Joseph's Collaborate to Advance Cancer Care in San Joaquin County

St. Joseph’s Medical Center is bringing advanced cancer care to San Joaquin County with a new collaboration between St. Joseph’s Regional Cancer Center and the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center that will enhance patient care and access to clinical trials.

Peter R. Carroll, MD, MPH

“Cancer touches the lives of thousands of people in our community – we are very proud to be combining our expertise with that of UCSF to elevate the level of care available to treat these individuals,’’ said Don Wiley, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

The affiliation bolsters the excellent care and support already offered at St. Joseph’s Regional Cancer Center – San Joaquin County’s only accredited cancer center – by pairing it with one of the premier cancer centers in the world.

“Our new collaboration with St. Joseph’s reflects our mission to make high-level cancer care more broadly available to people in 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 currently is affiliated with six other cancer centers: Enloe Medical Center in Chico; Mercy Medical Center in Redding; St. Helena Hospital in St. Helena; Renown Institute for Cancer in Reno; Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula; and the Regional Cancer Center at ValleyCare in Pleasanton.

The new affiliation will provide:

• Expanded access to clinical trials. St. Joseph’s patients already participate in clinical trials overseen by the hospital’s institutional review board. Increased opportunities for cancer patients to participate in clinical trials will be available because of UCSF’s leadership in research and the number of clinical trials available at UCSF for patients with a variety of malignancies. Such trials often use novel agents for those with rare cancers or cancers resistant to standard treatment regimens.
• Continuing education for doctors, staff and the public. St. Joseph’s and UCSF will develop educational sessions on cancer prevention, treatment, and other topics.
• Participation in “tumor boards” made up of experts in a range of disciplines who review cases. St. Joseph’s may submit cases to UCSF for review and UCSF physicians may take part in St. Joseph’s tumor board conferences.
• Referral to specialists. St. Joseph’s may refer patients to UCSF for specialized treatment.

UCSF Medical Center consistently ranks as one of the top hospitals in the United States. Recognized for innovative treatments, advanced technology, collaboration among clinicians and scientists, and a compassionate team of patient care providers, it serves as the academic medical center of the University of California, San Francisco.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center is a not-for-profit, fully accredited, regional hospital specializing in cardiovascular care, comprehensive cancer services, and women and children’s services including neonatal intensive care. In addition to being nationally recognized as a quality leader, St. Joseph’s is consistently chosen as the “most preferred hospital’’ by local consumers. St. Joseph’s is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. St. Joseph’s Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health, the fifth largest health system in the country with a network of care sites across Arizona, California, and Nevada. For more information, go here.