Regional News/West: City of Hope, Providence Health & Services form partnership

LOS ANGELES—City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center based in Duarte, Calif., reached a preliminary deal with Providence Health & Services to provide oncology services at the system's Southern California network of hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics. The two healthcare organizations signed a letter of intent to form a partnership they say will provide cancer patients in the region more accessible and affordable high-quality care. “All patients deserve appropriate access to the most advanced treatment options and expertise available, and their healthcare providers should be accountable for providing these in a patient-centered, affordable way,” Dr. Harlan Levine, chief executive of City of Hope Medical Foundation, said in a news release. “At the end of the day, this is what City of Hope and Providence will achieve together.” City of Hope is one of 41 facilities to achieve the National Cancer Institute's designation as a comprehensive cancer center. Providence, a Roman Catholic health system based in Renton, Wash., has five acute-care hospitals in its Southern California division. It also operates the Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank and the TrinityCare and TrinityKids Care hospice programs.