Headed to Cancer City to Speak with the Wizard

We are currently in Houston, Texas to visit the renowned medical center of MD Anderson.  This is where many of the greatest minds in cancer research and treatment work.  This hospital is known throughout the world to be one the best treatment centers for those who have been diagnosed with cancer. 

We will be meeting with two doctors there.  One is a Gynecology Oncologist (Gyn-Onc) and the other is a Urologic Oncologist.  The Gyn-Onc doctor is a known expert in the field of Serous Adenocarcinoma (Stephanie’s cancer) and he is the mentor of our current doctor at the University of Louisville.

 

When the idea to visit MD Anderson was first posed to me, I wasn't sure why we would need to travel across the country to a hospital to see a doctor who does the same thing as our current doctor  Again, this was another example of my ignorance of how the healthcare system works. 

Stephanie’s family was insistent that we go to MD Anderson and we decided to proceed to schedule an appointment in Houston with the specialists despite our lack of understanding of why.  However, we started speaking with our doctors about why this could be helpful to Stephanie’s treatment and learned that MD Anderson is an amazing place for those battling cancer. 

What is MD Anderson and Why are we going?

MD Anderson is essentially cancer “mecca” because they decided to be.  They recruited the best, the

raised the most, and they drove their mission of being the best in cancer treatment forward.  Over time, it was clear that their dedicated focus on fighting the disease clearly differentiated them from the rest of the world.  As a result, many patients wanted to consult with the best doctors and systems when they were diagnosed with cancer.  Therefore, MD Anderson designed a sort of triage system for patient consults. 

First, they designed a system where when a patient inquires; they are directed, by a human being, not a computer, to the right department.  Once the right department is contacted, they conduct an initial interview to see if it would be worth the patients time and investment to be seen by one of the specialists.  Once all of that is decided, a patient is directed to their travel concierge department to assist with arranging travel to and from the facility.  Frankly, from a business perspective, it is a beautiful business model.  They make everything simple for the consumer. 

MD Anderson also focused on the patient experience upon arrival.  They want the patient to be on campus for 3 to 4 days to receive tests and a thorough work-up from their team.  They have state of the art equipment at their facilities that is often more powerful and better than the diagnostic equipment in typical hospitals.  On the first day the physician meets with the patient for an initial consult and to develop the care plan for the 3-4 days at the hospital.  Also on the first day, the patient is given an orientation that outlines what services are available to patients while in Houston and how to navigate their system easily and efficiently.  Again, it is a beautiful model for the healthcare consumer. 

Once the dust settles from the tests and consults, the doctors make a recommendation on treatment plans moving forward.  They review what plans are already in place and suggest alterations to those plans that could impact the patient’s prognosis.  The best part is the physician’s willingness to collaborate with the patient’s current doctors at home. 

Our hope in visiting MD Anderson is to ensure that absolutely every avenue is being investigated for her care.  We are thankful to have the opportunity to do this together and I am confident this visit will serve to grow our knowledge of her disease and assist with helping ensure we fight using every weapon available.