In August 2021, Huntington Health affiliated with Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai in a deal that allowed the organizations to collaborate, share resources and expertise. It's been a little more than two years since the partnership was finalized, and it is already providing benefits to both organizations, their staffs and their patients.
Seven things to know:
1. Huntington Health, which includes the 544-bed Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., has added several physicians through the affiliation, expanding local access to high-quality care and services in the region. The physicians specialize in various areas, including cancer; cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery; obstetrical and gynecological care; pediatric subspecialty services; and otolaryngology.
2. Huntington Health implemented the CS-Link EHR system to streamline billing and improve the payment experience.
3. Huntington Cancer Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, added several physicians to provide comprehensive cancer care. It also expanded capabilities for infusion for chemotherapy and provided direct access to Cedars-Sinai Cancer clinical trials.
4. Surgeons who joined Huntington Health's cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery program are offering new treatments to patients, including robotic valve repair, coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic root and arch surgery, surgical treatment of arrhythmias and minimally invasive thoracic surgery.
5. Cedars-Sinai's otolaryngology program has been made available to adult and pediatric patients throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
6. Fair Oaks Women's Health, a six-specialist group that focuses on obstetrical and gynecological services joined Cedars-Sinai in May, expanding access to specialized care in the region.
7. Huntington Health's neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric physicians now have access to Cedars-Sinai pediatric subspecialists via teleconsultations. The partnership also enables direct transfers to Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's in Los Angeles for complex conditions.
"It is very gratifying that we already have up-and-running collaborations and new information-technology platforms in place that are benefiting patients," Cedars-Sinai Health System President and CEO Thomas Priselac said. "We are so pleased with the progress this partnership has made over the past two years, and I'm confident that these strides point to continued success in the years ahead."