By HFT Staff

City of Hope is opening Orange County’s only cancer specialty hospital on its academic cancer campus, establishing a next-generation model of care for the two million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year. 

The visionary initiative completes the most advanced, integrated cancer care network in the region, bringing the nation’s sixth-largest county more cancer-focused expertise, breakthrough acute and outpatient care, novel clinical trials and groundbreaking technology. 

Opening December 1, the Orange County cancer specialty hospital is a sister hospital to Helford Clinical Research Hospital in Duarte. City of Hope’s five cancer hospitals across the nation and network of clinical locations operate as a unified system, seamlessly sharing expertise, clinical trial access and advanced technologies to deliver advanced, coordinated care. 

Distinguishing clinical services include: 

• Highly Specialized, Cancer-Focused Expertise – The academic research campus is now home to more than 100 world-renowned surgical oncologists, medical oncologists and hematologists with specialized expertise in treating thoracic, gastrointestinal and urologic cancers, women’s cancers, blood cancers and more, as well as pulmonologists and hospitalists. 
• Leading-edge Surgical Technology – Four leading-edge operating rooms that function as a unified surgical unit alongside the three advanced ORs at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center. This integrated system enables real-time collaboration among surgeons and specialists across the entire City of Hope network, bringing together expertise, precision and innovation to deliver the highest level of surgical care available. 
• Clinical Trials – City of Hope patients currently have access to more than 700 Phase 1-3 clinical trials conducted each year — the most cancer-focused clinical trials in California. The 73-bed hospital provides access to more cancer-focused clinical trials, including complex and early-stage clinical trials in hematology and solid tumors. These Phase 1 clinical trials require close supervision in a hospital setting. 
• Seamless connection between acute and outpatient care – The hospital is seamlessly connected to City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, ensuring uninterrupted care for each patient’s needs (low acuity or complex). 
• Evaluation and Treatment Center (ETC) – 24/7 immediate care for City of Hope patients, staffed by oncology-trained physicians, nurses and others with expertise in managing cancer-related complications. The ETC, which has eight treatment beds and state-of-the-art technology, alleviates the need for patients to use a community emergency room for immediate care. 

More than 500 people, including patients, their families and community members, provided input during the hospital design to ensure their diverse needs were met. Every feature — from the Feng Shui design to the natural light, colors and textures to the carefully selected artwork — was intentionally designed to support healing of the body, mind and spirit. City of Hope pioneered a fully integrated supportive care model in the U.S. to ease the physical, emotional and psychological burden of a cancer diagnosis. 

Features include: 

• The Wetterau Family Spiritual Care Center, a first-of-its-kind, immersive, multifaith spiritual care center that allows patients to choose from seven sacred spaces. 
• Balconies on each floor provide patients with the opportunity to step into fresh air and sunlight. 
• An inpatient rehabilitation gym staffed by physical therapists with oncology expertise who ensure safe and productive pre-surgical preparation and post-surgical healing exercise for patients. The integrated cancer rehabilitation program supports chemoradiation treatment concurrently with rehabilitation.