Fred Hutch Cancer Center is committed to partnering with our community to create longer, healthier and richer lives for our patients and everyone living in our service area. This work in the community is an extension of our core mission.
We devoted $138.1 million of our operational costs to community benefit activities in fiscal year 2023 (FY23). A significant portion of this funding extended our high-quality clinical services to those who could not otherwise afford them, providing subsidized care and offering needed services at a financial loss. We also invested in research made available to the public, community health improvement services aimed at reducing the burden of cancer among high needs populations and education opportunities for future health care professionals.
At Fred Hutch, our unwavering commitment to making comprehensive cancer care and expertise accessible to everyone remains at the forefront of our mission. This year, we have significantly increased our investment in reaching underserved and marginalized communities, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against cancer. Through strategic collaborations and the cultivation of robust community partnerships, we have addressed critical cancer health disparities, fostering a more inclusive and equitable health care environment. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier community where every individual has the opportunity to receive the lifesaving care they deserve.
— Fred Hutch President and Director Dr. Thomas J. Lynch Jr.
Priority Areas
Fred Hutch’s current Community Benefit priorities areas are informed by the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment.
- Advancing health equity
- Providing culturally-attuned prevention, education and screening
- Delivering access to affordable and attainable comprehensive care
Our Community Benefit Implementation Plan also provides more detailed goals and objectives for addressing the community’s cancer-related health needs.
Financial Assistance and Means-Tested Government Programs
$63.7 million of our community benefit investment supported financial assistance to those who are uninsured, underinsured or otherwise unable to pay for their health care. This also includes reimbursed costs for providing care to patients enrolled in government-sponsored programs.
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Community Health Education
We participate in various community events and health fairs across Washington state to promote cancer prevention, screening and vaccine education. We build partnerships with community-based organizations and focus on reaching marginalized communities.
We also provide educational events for patients, families and survivors on specific cancer diagnoses including information about research, treatment and supportive care.
Fred Hutch participated in 100+ education events in FY23. View examples of some of these events.
Health & Wellness Festival
Each April during Minority Health Awareness Month, we host a Health and Wellness Festival in south Seattle and invite community partners who can offer health screenings and information relevant to Asian, Hispanic and Black community members.
CRC Community Awareness Event
During the month of March, we host an annual community awareness event about colorectal cancer.
Moving Beyond Cancer to Wellness
This program includes education on a variety of the late-and long-term effects faced by cancer survivors after treatment.
həliʔil Program
The həliʔil Program at Fred Hutch promotes non-ceremonial tobacco cessation and lung cancer screening in tribal nations.
Cancer Health Equity NOW Podcast
The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (OCOE) hosts a podcast to bring community voices together to share work in cancer-related research, cultural humility, personal experiences and evidence-informed practices that discuss reducing health disparities and inequities that exist in health and cancer care for underserved communities in Washington state.
Community-Based Clinical Services
To improve access to care, we provide breast and colorectal cancer screening programs for community members.
Mammogram Van
We partner with community-based organizations, health clinics and corporations to bring our state-of-the-art van all over the greater Seattle area to reach underserved communities.
- 5,600+ mammograms completed in FY23
Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
We launched a colorectal cancer screening program by mailing fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) to all UW Medicine patients.
- 32 percent of the nearly 10,000 patients who received a FIT kit completed colorectal cancer screening
- Educational materials and mailings were distributed in eight languages
- 28 clinics were included in outreach efforts
Health Care Support Services
We provide support services to vulnerable populations to enhance access.
Nurse Navigators
The Nurse Navigator Program provides individualized assistance to patients, families and caregivers to help overcome health system barriers and facilitate timely access to qualified medical and psychosocial care.
Served 2,135 unique patients
Family Assistance Fund
This fund helps patients needing support with shelter, food, transportation, utilities, etc.
- Served 306 unique patients
Financial Counselors
These staff members assist patients with Washington State Department of Social and Health Services applications, charity applications and financial assistance.
Health Professions Education
Fred Hutch invested $10.3 million to train medical professionals in the community in the advanced care and support we provide, so we can share our expertise and expand our reach beyond our immediate patient population. This includes graduate medical education for residents and fellows, nursing students and other health professionals such as social workers and lab technicians.
Provider Professional Development
Fred Hutch has a longstanding commitment to training the next generation of medical professionals. Our oncology-specific education programs focus on current and emerging standards of care and treatment with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Nurse Professional Development
Fred Hutch provides support for the growth of students, novice nurses and experienced nurses. This includes new-to-specialty registered nurse (RN) fellowships and an RN residency program.
Research
Alongside research grants and other donations, Fred Hutch contributed $60.8 million to produce some of the most important breakthroughs in the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer, HIV and other diseases. Precision oncology, immune modification and the intersection of data, technology and science continue to be where we’re looking beyond what is possible today to transform the research and care landscape.
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Fred Hutch also prioritizes partnering with community members, especially those who are disproportionately affected by cancer, at every stage of the research continuum. This approach provides opportunities for community members and researchers to learn from each other while building trust based on the shared goal of improving cancer outcomes.
The Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR) is a research institute at Fred Hutch that strives to improve cancer prevention, detection and treatment in ways that will reduce the economic and human burden of cancer — and ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients. To achieve this, HICOR brings together researchers, patient partners, clinicians, payers and policymakers to share cancer-related data and generate clinically relevant performance metrics that can guide improvements in cancer care.
Community Grants Program
Nine organizations were funded this year through the Community Grants Program to ensure fair and just access to the medical care each community needs. Each received a grant of up to $15,000 to develop and implement an innovative project that addresses a significant health inequity within each community served.
Community-Building Activities
We devoted $259,215 to community-building activities that encourage conversation, collaboration and advocacy to address the public health needs of state residents. We build and maintain strong and trusted external relationships with traditional minority and underrepresented communities with the shared goal of advancing health equity.
Some of the Activities
Pathways to Equity Symposium
To serve as a bridge between community and research at Fred Hutch, we host an annual symposium to provide a forum for community organizations and researchers to learn from each other.
Public Art & Community Dialogue Program
Initiated by the DEI Core, the Public Art and Community Dialogue program provides an opportunity for artists, employees and the broader community to be in dialogue about community solidarity and the pursuit of equity in research and health care.
Indigenous Cancer Health Equity Initiative (ICHE-i)
ICHE-i is a new effort to address the high burden of cancer incidence and mortality in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the state. It uses relationality, sustainability and holistic approaches to engage and support the Cancer Consortium’s research capacity to cultivate tribal, academic and research partnerships, center Tribal Sovereignty and increase Indigenous patient advocacy for cancer health equity among tribes and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) in Washington state.
Coalitions
We work with community members and organizations through various community coalitions to support sustainable cancer care programs and build capacity for research collaboration. Coalition members provide insight from their lived experience and organizational roles to facilitate understanding of community-specific cancer prevention and control needs. Together, we listen to community voices, experiences and expertise to reduce cancer inequities for residents in Washington state.