San Diego-based Scripps Clinic Medical Group, part of Scripps Health, has acquired CyberKnife of Southern California in Vista, Calif., Oncology Therapies of Vista and Pacific Radiation Oncology in Encinitas, Calif.
The agreement expands Scripss' radiation oncology services in North County and adds CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery, a highly specialized treatment option, to Scripps Health's comprehensive cancer treatment offerings.
CyberKnife surgery is a non-invasive alternative to traditional surgery and conventional radiotherapy. It delivers high doses of radiation, and is established as an effective treatment for cancers and tumors located in the brain, head and neck, lung, pancreas, prostate, spine, liver and kidneys.
Under the agreement, Scripps has acquired the assets of the centers, including two buildings at the Vista site. Current patients will not experience a change in their care. The physicians and staff at the centers will continue to practice at their current locations, which will be renamed.
Pacific Radiation Oncology Medical Group will be renamed Scripps Clinic Radiation Therapy Center Encinitas; Oncology Therapies of Vista Medical Group will become Scripps Clinic Radiation Therapy Center Vista; and CyberKnife of Southern California at Vista will be called Scripps Clinical Radiation Therapy Center Vista CyberKnife.
Five radiation oncology physicians are joining Scripps Clinic, including Patrick W. Linson, MD; Eva Lean, MD; Norbert Kased, MD; Anuradha Koka, MD; and Kenneth Shimizu, MD. Each physician is certified by the American Board of Radiology in radiation oncology. All five have privileges at various Scripps hospitals and have experience providing radiation oncology services at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Drs. Koka and Shimizu also have worked closely with Scripps Clinic physicians at the Scripps Radiation Therapy Center in La Jolla since it opened in 2012.