[Noozhawk’s note: First in a series sponsored by Sutter Health.]

Sansum Clinic has served as a cornerstone of healthcare excellence on the Central Coast for more than a century, and since joining forces with Sutter Health nearly two years ago, this legacy of providing exceptional care has only deepened.

The strategic partnership has expanded clinical care, introduced new, innovative medical technologies, and increased access to primary care and specialty care to meet growing local needs.

Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, President, Sutter Health, Greater Central Coast explained the decision to join Sutter was intentional and decades in the making. The search for an ideal partner was extensive and had originally started around 2007 when Sutter Health was a favored contender.

When the Great Recession hit, things were put on hold until just a few years ago. Sutter Health again rose to the top for its shared vision of comprehensive, not-for-profit, outpatient-focused care and its emphasis on a collaborative, medical group practice structure that complements Sansum’s longstanding commitment.

“It’s having a whole team on your team,” explained Ransohoff, who described the Sansum-Sutter partnership as an enhancement rather than a replacement of Sansum’s identity.

“Sutter has helped us to address the shortage of doctors in this region. As physicians, we know where gaps in local medical care exist, and we became better-equipped to fill them,” explained Ransohoff.

“Sutter’s extensive resources and reputation have proven instrumental in recruiting top medical talent to Santa Barbara. Doctors today want stability, strong reputations, and competitive benefits—all of which we can confidently offer with Sutter.”

Since joining Sutter Health, Sansum Clinic has hired 50 new clinicians, reflecting a roughly 25% increase in medical staffing.

The hires were a mix of physicians and advanced practice clinicians, or APCs, who are mainly physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Patients can now be seen by an APC for many of their primary care needs, providing quicker access and reducing delays in treatment.

“This affiliation has been wonderful,” said Dr. Marjorie Newman, Chief Medical Officer at Sansum Clinic, now part of Sutter Health. “Only through a partnership with a bigger entity have we been able to recruit for positions that we’ve desperately needed in the community.”

The infusion of new clinicians significantly boosted primary care access, a national frustration felt for years on the Central Coast. Sansum Clinic managed to cut wait times for a new primary care appointment by half.

These new visits are now available in about two weeks or less, and patients can schedule them online on evenings and weekends, as well as weekdays.

Sansum’s Urgent Care followed suit, expanding operating hours and offering online scheduling for same-day or future Urgent Care appointments. “We’re really just trying to pull all the levers to get people the care they need when they need it,” said Dr. Newman.

While Sansum’s 275+ clinicians across 23 locations spanning from Carpinteria to Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley, the Sutter connection helped to broaden the number of doctors in specialties like infectious disease, endocrinology, dermatology, cardiology, reconstructive surgery, gastroenterology, and mental health.

Particularly notable is the expansion of the number of therapists, directly addressing a critical community need amid a nationwide mental health crisis.

The strength of Sutter’s recruiting arm also bolstered hiring in medical specialties at Sansum. New physicians like urogynecologist Dr. Benjamin Wisner, spine surgeon Dr. Sean Keem, gastroenterologist and endoscopic ultrasound specialist Dr. Mick Meiselman, and Mohs surgeon Dr. Andrew Kwong (who is starting this month), allow patients who need these services to receive care locally instead of having to travel to a large city.

A cardiologist with special training in women’s health, and a geriatrician who will coordinate care for patients at skilled nursing facilities will join the ranks in the coming year.

“Our expertise rivals what is at major academic centers,” Newman added. “Patients can receive advanced, comprehensive care right here in their own community.”

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, already the anchor for cancer care on the Central Coast, has built on the strength and reach of the services it already offers with Sutter’s help. Sutter’s acquisition of radiation oncology centers in San Luis Obispo and Templeton solidified continued access to local, high-quality cancer care for patients in San Luis Obispo County.

In Santa Barbara, the launch of a High-Risk Breast Clinic, the hire of three new oncologists and the addition of a plastic and reconstructive surgeon this fall all position Sutter’s Central Coast to care for a growing aging population where more people will likely be diagnosed with cancer and prefer to see specialists close to where they live.

Clinical research capabilities at Sansum and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center have been expanded through the affiliation with Sutter. Patients now have access to 45+ Sutter Health clinical trials, in addition to 29 conducted locally with funding from the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara.

Being part of a larger healthcare network has allowed Sansum to leverage resources that were previously difficult to obtain independently.

A key example is the recent purchase of an Intuitive da Vinci 5® system for robotic surgeries at Foothill Surgery Center, one of the first outpatient centers in the country to acquire this technology.

Surgeons use the robotic platform for complex procedures in urology, gynecology, and general surgery now in an outpatient setting, enabling faster patient recovery and reduced healthcare costs.

“This was made possible through a blend of local philanthropy and the strength of the Sutter Health network,” Ransohoff said.

Sutter Health contributed $1.3 million of the $3 million investment for the da Vinci 5® and previously funded 3 new ORs or operating rooms at Foothill Surgery Center. Seven total ORs make this state-of-the art outpatient surgery center one of the largest and busiest in the Santa Barbara area.

Expanded diagnostic imaging services, faster turnaround times for receiving results and upgrades to CT machines are also a product of Sutter’s financial commitment and streamlined approach to care.

This fall, Sansum will transition to Sutter’s electronic health record. This means that patients will move from Sansum’s MyChart patient portal to Sutter’s My Health Online patient portal.

My Health Online (which is available on any browser or via mobile app) will connect patients to their doctors and health records anytime, anywhere, and will make it easy for them to schedule care, participate in video visits, reorder prescriptions, and view test results.

Sutter’s vision for the Central Coast centers on becoming the most accessible, integrated healthcare organization to serve more patients. “We’re not being erased; we’re being enhanced,” Ransohoff said, quoting a Sutter Health colleague.

“Our core mission remains unchanged—delivering exceptional, compassionate care to Santa Barbara and our surrounding communities. We’ve been here for the past 100 years, and we will continue to be here to care for the next generations of patients.”

[Noozhawk’s note: This article was written in partnership with Sutter Health.]