Scripps Health to Receive $22.1 Million for Health Programs

Funds to be used for breast cancer, cardiovascular and neurocognitive care.

SAN DIEGO – United States District Judge John A. Houston has approved $22.1 million in funding to Scripps Health for a variety of initiatives to support patient care, research and health equity in the areas of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive conditions.

The approval of funds to Scripps stems from a legal settlement reached earlier this year between the defendant, a pharmaceutical company and the plaintiffs, a class-action group of consumers who claimed the company misrepresented the health risks and benefits of its hormone replacement therapy drugs. Scripps was not involved in the case.

After the plaintiffs received their settlement funds, excess funds remained. The settlement agreement calls for these residual funds to be distributed to benefit California women in the areas that were central to the case: breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive disease. Scripps is one of several health care organizations in California to apply for residual funds from the case in a grant-style proposal process.

“We’re so pleased that funding from this settlement will go to good use to improve the health and well-being of our community,” said Scripps Health President and CEO Chris Van Gorder. “We have a number of programs that we’re excited to fund that will make a real difference.”

Scripps Health’s cancer program plans to use funds to support a number of breast cancer efforts, including clinical trials, translational research, expanded biorepository research, community outreach and a cancer survivorship program.

Additionally, Scripps Health plans various programs to support heart care. These include an integrative cardiology outreach program for underserved women, a virtual cardiac rehabilitation program and a machine learning study to predict risk and outcomes of heart disease.

For neurocognitive care, Scripps plans to launch a new project to provide education and rapid testing for obstructive sleep apnea, which is associated with increased levels of dementia-related protein buildup in the brain.

Scripps also plans a variety of projects designed to address health care disparities, including outreach, screening and supportive services for dementia, breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH
Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a nonprofit integrated health care delivery system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats more than 600,000 patients annually through the dedication of 3,000 affiliated physicians and more than 15,000 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, home health care services, 28 outpatient centers and clinics, and hundreds of affiliated physician offices throughout the region.

Recognized as a leader in disease and injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment, Scripps is also at the forefront of clinical research. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Scripps has been ranked five times as one of the nation’s best health care systems by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals are ranked No. 1 in San Diego County and among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Scripps also is recognized by Advisory Board, Fortune and Working Mother magazine as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information .