Thanking Dr. Anthony Van Ho and Northwest Cancer Specialists
In his two years as volunteer physician, Northwest Cancer Specialists’ hematologist/oncologist Dr. Anthony Van Ho has found the Project Access system “seamless for patients, for doctors, and for staff”. It has allowed him to focus on treating the illness and leave dealing with the paperwork to specialized administrative staff.
Dr. Van Ho heard about the program from his first Project Access patient, whom he’s still seeing. The patient was a Project Access referral, so the treatment process has been “more streamlined than expected”. By contrast, for “patients admitted through emergency departments who have no insurance, one may have to do more legwork to help them through diagnostics, treatment, prescriptions, follow up…”
That the process is smooth is particularly important because “cancer patients come not just with an illness, but also with vulnerability and needing emotional support. Many patients have less than ideal social and living situation which makes matters more difficult, and cancer patients also need post-treatment life planning or end-of-life care. It becomes very complex and thus a seamless process of care comes quite helpful.”
Northwest Cancer Specialists sees 36 patients as a group. Dr. Van Ho hasn’t found the number of patients to be a burden. “It’s been manageable,” he said. On the contrary, Dr. Van Ho advised physicians to “think more globally, not just through your individual feelings. It’s important to be creative and share the experience together. To volunteer in [Project Access NOW] matters as a team effort.”
(March 2010)
