Washington Hospital Healthcare System in Fremont, Calif., and UCSF Health have enhanced their existing affiliation to include medical oncology.
UCSF Health physicians Dr. Bogdan Eftimie and Dr. David Lee, well-established and respected specialists in Southern Alameda County, will be co-medical directors of the service at Washington Hospital. Both doctors have extensive medical training, education and board certification in oncology and hematology.
Their role builds upon a three-year relationship between Washington Hospital and UCSF Health, and is the first step towards a future expansion of cancer services at Washington Hospital. Ultimately, Washington and UCSF will develop a more complete, comprehensive cancer program in southern Alameda County. The presence of the new medical oncology program at Washington Hospital will allow access to highly specialized cancer services and specialists not currently available in the community. The program will launch Jan. 2, 2017, at 2500 Mowry Ave. in Fremont.
"With the strengths and qualifications of these two renowned cancer specialists, and the affiliation with UCSF Health, we are able to offer residents of the Tri-City Area access to leading-edge medical oncology care without them leaving their community," said Nancy Farber, chief executive officer of Washington Hospital Healthcare System. "Dr. Eftimie and Dr. Lee are a great illustration of how our affiliation with UCSF benefits Tri-City residents and their overall local access to academic-level medical care."
Dr. Eftimie and Dr. Lee are members of UCSF Medical Center, which is part of UCSF Health and is ranked number one in Northern California and in the top 10 nationwide for cancer care, according to U.S. News & World Report America's Best Hospitals.
"This is an exciting collaboration," said Alan Ashworth, senior vice president of cancer services at UCSF Health and president of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Washington Hospital and UCSF Health are both driven to advance patient care by identifying the most promising and precise therapies for each individual patient, and finding the best solutions for the most difficult cases. The ability to have Drs. Eftimie and Lee deliver this care close to where patients live is a tremendous opportunity to address the impact that cancer has in our communities."
The new affiliation furthers a strong relationship begun in 2013, when Washington Hospital initiated a program to provide local access to a number of UCSF premier medical specialties, including neonatal intensive care, cardiac surgery and several pediatric specialties.
"We are very pleased to be establishing an oncology collaboration with Washington Hospital," said Mark Laret, chief executive officer and president of UCSF Health. "This is an opportunity to work together to enhance care for patients in southern Alameda County. Drs. Eftimie and Lee are terrific physicians, committed to cancer innovation and translating research into better therapies and major breakthroughs. By leading medical oncology at Washington Hospital, they will be providing patients with precise diagnoses and the highest quality care, and in the most comforting, convenient environment possible. This will play an extraordinary role in meeting the needs of this community."
The expanded collaboration reflects a growing demand for cancer care and long-term surveillance that stems from an aging population, a rising incidence of cancer and a significant increase in the number of cancer survivors. The new affiliation will establish a highly coordinated medical oncology network to better facilitate referring and transferring patients to UCSF when needed. Additionally, Washington Hospital will be providing a more integrated, comprehensive approach to medical oncology care — from diagnosis, to treatment, through survivorship.
The cancer teams at UCSF Health have long been recognized for groundbreaking discovery, advanced patient care and interdisciplinary research. UCSF received the most research funds from the National Institutes of Health of all public institutions in 2015, and ranked second in NIH funding among all institutions nationwide. In addition, the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, the NCI's highest ranking. UCSF is also home to the new Center for BRCA Research, a central resource for families with inherited gene mutations to receive personalized care and planning for their long-term health and well-being.
About Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Washington Hospital has received three-year reaccreditation from the American College of Surgeon's Commission on Cancer (CoC), which includes the 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award. The accreditation acknowledges Washington Hospital's cancer program for achieving excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Additionally, the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers NAPBC has honored Washington Hospital with a three-year full accreditation of its Breast Health Program for its commitment to providing the best possible care to patients with diseases of the breast.
Opened in 1958, Washington Hospital Healthcare System has grown to include a 341-bed, acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Institute for Joint Restoration and Research; Washington Township Medical Foundation; and Washington West, a complex which houses Washington Women's Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos RN Infusion Center, Washington Urgent Care, and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities. Please visit www.whhs.com.
About UCSF Medical 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. Visit www.ucsfhealth.org
