Tri-Cities Cancer Center

Tri-Cities Cancer Center
Name	Tri-Cities Cancer Center
Location	Kennewick, Washington
Type	Specialist
Specialty	Oncology
Founded	1995

Tri-Cities Cancer Center is a specialized oncology center located in Kennewick, Washington, serving the Tri-Cities, Washington region including Pasco, Washington and Richland, Washington. The center provides comprehensive cancer care integrating multidisciplinary teams from regional hospitals such as Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Providence systems, and networks connected to statewide institutions like University of Washington Medical Center and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. It functions within the healthcare landscape of Benton County, Washington and coordinates referrals with national centers including Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Overview

The facility operates as a regional hub for oncology, offering services across surgical, medical, and radiation oncology disciplines with links to specialty programs at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, UW Medicine, and corporate partners such as Varian Medical Systems and Elekta. Its patient navigation integrates tumor boards referencing guidelines from organizations like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Cancer Society, and American Society of Clinical Oncology. The center collaborates with insurers and agencies such as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and state public health bodies including the Washington State Department of Health.

History

Established in the mid-1990s, the center emerged from regional efforts involving civic leaders, healthcare executives, and philanthropic foundations including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-style grantmakers and local entities modeled after nonprofit centers like Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation. Early partnerships included academic exchanges with University of Washington, clinical affiliations with Harborview Medical Center, and technology procurements from vendors such as GE Healthcare. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s it expanded services reflecting trends observed at institutions like Moffitt Cancer Center, adding radiation suites and infusion centers comparable to expansions undertaken by Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Sloan Kettering Institute.

Facilities and Services

The center houses outpatient infusion suites, radiation oncology bunkers, and diagnostic imaging comparable to installations at Cleveland Clinic, featuring modalities from manufacturers like Siemens Healthineers and Philips Healthcare. Clinical programs include hematology-oncology, breast oncology with links to screening protocols from American College of Radiology, thoracic oncology aligned with guidelines from Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and gynecologic oncology reflecting standards of Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Support services encompass palliative care modeled on programs at Hospice of Spokane, survivorship clinics inspired by MD Anderson Cancer Center initiatives, and psychosocial oncology aligned with National Comprehensive Cancer Network supportive care guidance.

Research and Clinical Trials

Research activities include participation in cooperative group trials coordinated through networks such as the National Cancer Institute-sponsored Clinical Trials Network, Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and SWOG Cancer Research Network. The center has collaborated on protocols with academic partners including University of Washington School of Medicine, translational projects referencing methodologies from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and investigator-initiated studies similar to work at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Clinical trial management employs regulatory frameworks from the Food and Drug Administration and ethical oversight akin to Institutional Review Board processes used at Stanford University School of Medicine and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Community Outreach and Education

Community programs emphasize prevention, screening, and survivorship through campaigns modeled after initiatives by the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and state coalitions partnering with Washington State University extension services. Educational events include screening drives, tobacco cessation efforts paralleling Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, and genetic counseling referrals consistent with practices at Myriad Genetics-affiliated clinics. The center engages with local school districts, veterans organizations such as VA Puget Sound Health Care System analogs, and civic groups modeled on United Way and Rotary International to extend community health literacy and patient support.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a board of directors and executive leadership drawing expertise from regional healthcare systems like Kadlec Regional Medical Center, academic partners including University of Washington Medicine, and philanthropic stakeholders reminiscent of Seattle Foundation donors. Funding streams combine reimbursement from payers like Medicare and Aetna, grants from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and state health departments, and philanthropic contributions modeled on campaigns run by American Cancer Society affiliates. Capital investments and technology acquisitions have been financed through a mix of bonds, charitable capital campaigns similar to those by Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and vendor financing from corporations such as Siemens AG and Varian Medical Systems.

Category:Cancer hospitals in the United States Category:Hospitals in Washington (state)