In a move that will enhance care for cancer patients, oncologists and staff from The Oregon Clinic, Medical Oncology Division – four physicians, two nurse practitioners and 25 clinic staff – will be joining Providence Cancer Center.
The move follows discussions between The Oregon Clinic and Providence Health & Services, which have a long shared history of partnering in providing health care services to support our communities. Recently, the organizations have been talking about more closely aligning their world-class cancer services.
“This decision furthers our vision of providing a connected experience of care for people needing cancer services,” says Dr. Walter Urba, director of research for Providence Cancer Center. “It also improves our growing ability to serve patients in a community-based, academic model, and increases our research opportunities on behalf of those patients at Providence Cancer Center.”
With the move, Providence will now have 13 medical oncologists at its three Portland-area hospitals – Providence Portland, Providence St. Vincent and Providence Milwaukie.
“I am excited about what this will mean for our patients and the community we serve,” says Dr. Brendan Curti, medical director of The Oregon Clinic, Medical Oncology Division. “By combining our resources, knowledge and expertise, we can provide more efficient and more effective services to our patients and become an even stronger advocate on behalf of those suffering from cancer. This new arrangement will allow us to enhance our cancer research as well as our clinical mission. We look forward to working with our collaborators from The Oregon Clinic and the other physicians that we work with.”
Providence and The Oregon Clinic believe this agreement will provide many enhancements in cancer care for our communities, including:
- Movement to a common electronic medical record with these oncologists and Providence services. This is consistent with Providence’s vision of a connected experience of care built on a foundation of clinical excellence.
- Enhanced research opportunities for the oncologists – and a broadened opportunity to bring that research from bench to bedside for the direct benefit of cancer patients.
- An even greater opportunity to organize treatment around teams of experts in individual tumor types.
- New opportunities to collaborate with Providence Health Plan in seeking the best evidence-based cancer care.
- Added opportunities to provide cancer care in communities across our region.
- Continued strong alignment between Providence and The Oregon Clinic.
- Providence and The Oregon Clinic expect the transition of the medical oncologists and the staff to be completed by Nov. 1.