BMC joins SCCA Network, becomes tenth affiliate in the greater Northwest

Bend Memorial Clinic (BMC) has joined the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) Network to become its tenth affiliate in the greater Northwest. The affiliation will expand local access to cancer treatment options and help foster advances in cancer care.

Bend Memorial Clinic includes more than 120 providers representing 30 specialties including urgent care, primary care, specialty care, imaging and clinical services. With five locations BMC is the largest multi-specialty group in Central Oregon and provides quality, convenient healthcare known as TotalCareTM. The Clinic has provided primary and specialty care since 1946.

"We are honored that SCCA, one of the most highly respected academic cancer centers in the country, has invited Bend Memorial Clinic to become part of its network," said Dr. Bill Schmidt, Oncologist at Bend Memorial Clinic. "This affiliation will greatly benefit both our clinical research and clinical cancer care programs and will provide a direct link to some of the most highly respected cancer clinicians in the country, allowing us to offer world-class cancer care to our patients."

By joining the SCCA Network, Bend Memorial Clinic oncologists can now offer their patients access to additional treatment options via select SCCA clinical studies without having to send their patients to Seattle. The SCCA Network provides a structured program for supporting community-based oncology services, such as continuing medical education and arranging for local patients to enroll in clinical trials managed by qualified community physicians.

"At SCCA we strive to provide all patients within the SCCA Network access to advanced clinical trials," said Norm Hubbard, Executive Vice President of SCCA. "We are excited to partner with Bend Memorial Clinic oncologists to offer these resources to patients in the Central Oregon community."

The new relationship doesn't involve any changes to health plan coverage or benefits. As always, patients should talk directly with their health plan customer service center to understand coverage specifics before beginning any treatment.

Other members of the SCCA Network include Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Bozeman, Mont.; Columbia Basin Hematology and Oncology, Kennewick; Group Health Group Practice; MultiCare Regional Cancer Center, Tacoma; Olympic Medical Center, Port Angeles; Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage; Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon; Tri-Cities Cancer Center, Tri-Cities; and Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, Wenatchee. SeaMar Community Health Centers also have a relationship with the SCCA Network as a community partner focused on educational activities.