Hawaii Pacific Health and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) have formed a strategic partnership that will help to advance the standard of cancer care in Hawaii through population health management with a focus on improving prevention, screening, early detection and treatment of cancer.
Ranked in the nation’s top 10 cancer centers by U.S. News & World Report, SCCA brings together the research teams and cancer specialists from three world-class institutions – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital and UW Medicine. SCCA also has Network Member institutions throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Hawaii Pacific Health’s affiliation with SCCA will enhance its current cancer care programs by expanding existing initiatives with these leading facilities in patient education, quality improvement, research and clinical trials. Hawaii residents also will continue to have access to the latest cancer treatment options right here in the islands, including clinical trials and other protocols that will now be broadened through the partnership.
“Hawaii Pacific Health and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance have a similar vision, values and culture of collaboration that made this partnership a natural fit,” said Hawaii Pacific Health President & CEO Ray Vara. “This formal affiliation will enhance our ability to develop a population health management program that complements our ongoing work with the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. It also will increase our depth of expertise by providing broader access to SCCA’s network of providers and resources.”
“Both Hawaii Pacific Health and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance share the goal of elevating patient care. The Hawaii Pacific Health cancer care team is among the best in Hawaii, and SCCA is honored to partner with them to support the patients and families of Hawaii,” said Dr. Marc Stewart, chief medical officer and vice president of SCCA.
Hawaii Pacific Health currently provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care through four medical centers – Kapiolani, Pali Momi, Straub and Wilcox. Its team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals is dedicated to providing quality cancer care that allows Hawaii residents the ability to stay at home for their treatment, when possible. This partnership will increase the opportunity for patients to benefit from the support of family and friends in Hawaii.
In addition to its leadership in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric and adult cancers, Hawaii Pacific Health has expanded its focus on prevention and wellness by building care teams centered around patients with screening, monitoring and early intervention initiatives aimed to reduce the impact of chronic health conditions and improve health outcomes among Hawaii’s population. This partnership will explore the potential for these population health initiatives to positively impact the incidence of cancer and patient outcomes related to cancer in Hawaii.
Hawaii Pacific Health also continues to partner with the University of Hawaii Cancer Center as a Hawaii Cancer Consortium member and clinical partner providing access to clinical trials. The SCCA affiliation will provide opportunities for the joint development and implementation of innovative approaches between SCCA, Hawaii Pacific Health and the UH Cancer Center to improve cancer-related treatment outcomes.
“The Hawaii Pacific Health-SCCA affiliation will complement the existing and strong ties between Hawaii Pacific Health and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center,” said Dr. Randall Holcombe, UH Cancer Center Director. “The UH Cancer Center will continue to facilitate access to clinical trials for patients and work with the Hawaii Cancer Consortium members to reduce the burden of cancer for the people of Hawaii. The affiliation will provide opportunities for researchers at the UH Cancer Center to partner with Hawaii Pacific Health and SCCA on research projects involving cancer care delivery and population-based approaches to cancer prevention.”
“The University of Hawaii has had a long-standing partnership with Hawaii Pacific Health and its hospitals and programs throughout the state,” said University of Hawaii President David Lassner. “We look forward to the new opportunities their affiliation with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance will offer for enhanced educational programs and research as we all work to improve cancer care and outcomes for the people of Hawaii.”
SCCA representatives will be in Hawaii in November to meet with Hawaii Pacific Health’s leadership and cancer care team to begin discussions and development of potential joint initiatives.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Pictured in the photo above are (l to r) Dr. Jeffrey Killeen, medical director, Oncology Service Line, Hawaii Pacific Health; Norm Hubbard, executive vice president, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; Ray Vara, president and chief executive officer, Hawaii Pacific Health; and Dr. Marc Stewart, chief medical officer, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
About Hawaii Pacific Health
Hawaii Pacific Health is a not-for-profit health care network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and other caregivers serving Hawaii and the Pacific Region with high quality, compassionate care. Its four hospitals — Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Medical Center and Wilcox Medical Center — specialize in innovative programs in women’s health, pediatric care, cardiovascular services, cancer care, bone and joint services and more. Hawaii Pacific Health is recognized nationally for its excellence in patient care and the use of electronic health records to improve quality and patient safety. Learn more at HawaiiPacificHealth.org.
About Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance brings together the leading research teams and cancer specialists from Fred Hutch, Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine – one extraordinary group whose sole purpose is the pursuit of better, longer, richer lives for our patients. Based in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, SCCA has six clinical care sites, including a medical oncology clinic at Evergreen Health in Kirkland, Washington; medical and radiation oncology clinics at UW Medicine/Northwest Hospital & Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, as well as Network affiliations with hospitals in six states. For more information about SCCA, visit SeattleCCA.org.