City of Temecula to Launch Regional Cancer Services Task Force

From The City of Temecula:

The City of Temecula will launch the Regional Cancer Services Task Force with a meeting on Thursday, November 3rd at 4pm-6pm at the Temecula City Hall Conference Center. The agenda for the kick-off meeting includes an “Assessment of Needs,” and will feature expert speakers to assist the Task Force in assessing gaps in cancer treatment resources in the region. Developed at the request of Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar and Mayor Pro-Tem Maryann Edwards, the Task Force will be comprised of representatives from the County of Riverside, City of Murrieta, City of Lake Elsinore, City of Menifee, and City of Temecula; as well as Riverside County Public Health (Riverside University Health System), Temecula Valley Hospital, Loma Linda Medical Center, UCSD Health, UC Riverside School of Medicine, IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan), Michelle’s Place, American Cancer Society, and local oncologists. Stakeholders and other participants will include other health care professionals, cancer survivors and caregivers, and the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Riverside County

After the initial meeting on November 3rd, the Regional Cancer Services Task Force will meet once every other month over the next year. Each meeting will focus on a specific objective and identify appropriate resources and experts to support that objective. Topics include identifying gaps in treatments and services, developing a model of care, recruiting talent and resources, developing support services, and identifying legislative issues. The Task Force will conclude in October 2017 with a roll-out of its recommendations.

Mayor Mike Naggar said, “This issue really hit home for me when a close friend’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Watching her whole family struggle just to find the resources they needed to help their little girl made me realize that we have a critical shortage of cancer treatment services in our region.” Naggar added, “Our hope is to one day ease the burden of those suffering from cancer by developing a plan to bring more cancer treatments and resources closer to home.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Maryann Edwards added, “By assembling a team of experts in our region, we can be more effective in understanding how we can alleviate the need for cancer patients to travel to Orange County or San Diego for treatment and develop world-class resources in our own backyard.”

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