News in Brief

UC Davis to expand cancer services in outlying areas

The UC Davis Health System has made arrangements with hospitals in Merced and Yuba City to bring an expanded menu of cancer services to these communities.

In January, UC Davis Health System entered into a partnership with the Fremont-Rideout Health Group in Yuba City/Marysville to build a jointly operated cancer center. Patients will continue to receive care in their community from their local primary care physicians, yet will have immediate access to clinical trials, a wider range of radiation oncology services, and consultations with academic physicians when needed to discuss treatment plans and dosimetry. Telemedicine consultations and physician rotations between the UC Davis Cancer Center and the Fremont Rideout Health Group will also be available.

The Fremont-Rideout Health Group includes two acute care hospitals, Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville and Fremont Medical Center in Yuba City, which provide a broad spectrum of health services. The not-for-profit facilities are located in north central California about 125 miles west of Reno and 60 miles north of Sacramento.

The new, 17,000-square-foot facility will be constructed in Marysville at a cost of about $8 million, which will be shared by both parties. Estimated opening is spring 2000.

In June, the UC Davis Health System entered into a similar business agreement with Mercy Hospital and Health System in Merced. A $5 million cancer facility is expected to open in December 1999, with half the costs being footed by UC Davis and half by Mercy.

Mercy Hospital and Health Services, which is also non-profit, has 101 licensed beds, 200 physicians and over 600 employees.

"We are enthusiastic about this collaboration, which will allow us to bring our educational and research oriented programs to these exceptional community based hospitals," says Ralph deVere White, director of the UC Davis Cancer Center.

The UC Davis Health System consists of the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, the UC Davis School of Medicine in Davis, and the UC Davis Medical Group physician network.