One of the goals of UC Davis Health System's outreach initiative is to enhance access to high quality specialty services in outlying communities through the development of partnerships with community-based hospitals and physicians. To make advanced cancer care services available to smaller communities, the UC Davis Cancer Center established the UC Davis Cancer Center Network. The Network currently has two members - Fremont-Rideout Cancer Center, Marysville and Mercy Cancer Center, Merced.

These regional cancer centers are the result of joint venture collaborations between the UC Davis Health System and two strong community-based health systems - Fremont-Rideout Health Group and Mercy Hospital & Health Services. The centers were designed to help patients get cancer care from their local physicians while having access to UC Davis clinical specialists and advanced treatment modalities including clinical trials.

Both facilities provide complete outpatient chemotherapy and radiation oncology services in patient-centered facilities that provide access to state-of-the-art services in a serene, supportive environment.

Each center is equipped with the latest technology including high-energy, dual-photon linear accelerators, CT scanners for simulation, and telemedicine linkages to UC Davis specialists and services. New radiation oncology treatment planning systems will help radiation oncologists plan more precisely the exact dosage of radiation required to kill tumor cells while minimally affecting healthy tissue. Likewise, three-dimensional treatment planning computers help to better target cancer cells. The centers are also linked via a patient management system for treatment planning, quality control, and clinical communications.

Patients receive state-of-the-art chemotherapy treatments from medical oncology specialists and specially trained nursing staff in physical surroundings that are designed to be supportive, soothing, and healing.

Both cancer centers are community centers for cancer information and education with resource libraries housed in each facility. Each is also actively involved with the local chapter of the American Cancer Society in promoting prevention, support groups, and education.

Telemedicine links both cancer centers to the UC Davis Cancer Center for patient consultation, case management, quality review, and continuing education. Via telemedicine, regional cancer center physicians can consult with UC Davis specialists on patient care issues and conduct consultations with patients. Physicians and other clinical staff have access to UC Davis tumor board meetings, grand rounds, and continuing medical and nursing education. The system is also used to maintain quality communications between the regional centers and the UC Davis Cancer Center. The Fremont-Rideout Cancer Center located in Marysville, is on the campus of Rideout Memorial Hospital and housed in a new 18,000 square-foot facility. The Mercy Cancer Center that is housed in a 13,500 square foot facility, is located on the future site of the new Mercy hospital in Merced.

"These affiliations give us an opportunity to extend the ability of our cancer program to help people in outlying areas," said Bob Chason, director for UC Davis Medical Center. "The UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center have longstanding commitments to improving access to health care to the residents of Northern California. Developing cancer centers in these outlying areas supports this goal."

For more information, please contact Pat Keast, Regional Affiliations Officer, at patricia.keast@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu or (916) 734-0754.