The UCLA department of head and neck surgery and House Clinic announced today that they have signed a letter of intent to pursue and finalize a clinical partnership. The alliance would create the nation’s leader in patient care, research and education for hearing and ear disorders.
“We are thrilled to invite the House Clinic’s world-class group of physicians to the internationally recognized UCLA Health and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,” said Dr. David Feinberg, president of the UCLA Health System, CEO of the UCLA Hospital System and associate vice chancellor of the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Our partnership will enable patients from Los Angeles and throughout the world to be treated by House doctors as part of the UCLA network.”
The move would preserve each organization’s identity and mission while blending clinical operations to expand patient access to House and UCLA specialists. The clinic’s nine physicians, including two neurosurgeons specializing in tumors and other diseases affecting the inner ear and skull base, would join UCLA’s network.
“The House Clinic is recognized internationally for its education of past, as well as future, leaders in the field of otology,” said Dr. John House, the son of founder Dr. Howard House. “We have identified a renowned institution in UCLA whose mission is complementary to our own and who shares our values and high standards for superb patient care built upon cutting-edge research.”
“House Clinic looks forward to leveraging UCLA’s research facilities and clinical network, and expanding our access to patient care,” said Dr. Jennifer Derebery, president of the House Clinic. “UCLA’s strong community outreach and reputation as the preeminent medical school in southern California will further our mission of advancing the medical and surgical treatment of hearing loss and ear disorders.”
Based in downtown Los Angeles, the House Clinic has satellite locations in Orange, Huntington Beach, Bakersfield, Santa Monica, Encino and Ventura. All of the sites, including Los Angeles, dispense hearing aids, and the Orange location also offers medical care.
Both UCLA and House have attracted global acclaim for improving the medical and surgical treatment of hearing loss and ear disorders.
UCLA was ranked No. 10 for ear, nose and throat care in U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 “Best Hospitals” edition. The UCLA neurotology program provides advanced medical and surgical therapies for the treatment of hearing loss and balance disorders and it has been named a U.S. Center of Excellence by the National Institutes of Health. Both UCLA and House are among a handful of sites designated by the state of California for cochlear implantation surgery. UCLA’s pediatric program provides comprehensive medical and surgical management of ear, nose and throat disorders for children from birth to age 21.
Founded in 1942, House Clinic helped pioneer the development of skull base surgery and was instrumental in developing the cochlear implant, which revolutionized the treatment of deafness. In 1960, Dr. William House performed the first cochlear implant surgery in the United States, and in 1979 he performed the world’s first auditory brainstem implant. In May, House surgeons implanted a deaf pediatric patient with an auditory brainstem device — a first in the U.S. — as part of a National Institutes of Health clinical trial.
“The House Clinic continues to be the nation’s premier organization in the treatment of hearing loss and ear disorders,” said Dr. Gerald Berke, chair of head and neck surgery at UCLA. “Having them join the UCLA Health family demonstrates our commitment to future growth and excellence in the field and reflects House’s recognition of UCLA as the most important health care provider in Southern California.”
