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Cancer Center Puts Doctors Where Patients Live -- Smaller Offices in Rural Towns Strive for Personalized Attention

Posted on: Saturday, 8 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

By Maria Burnham burnham@commercialappealcom

Family Cancer Center didn't break any new ground when it decided to start opening a series of small offices in communities around Memphis.

But the formula, which puts doctors and services where patients live, has proven successful for the nine-doctor oncology and hematology practice.

"We're sort of copying the primary care model by bringing care to the patient, as opposed to making them travel long distances and jump through hoops," said Dr. Donald Gravenor, who works in the Family Cancer Center's Olive Branch and Dyersberg offices, as well as the one at Saint Francis Hospital.

With smaller offices, patients get to know the nurses, get more personal attention and don't feel as lost in the crowd, Gravenor said.

The practice opened its two newest offices in July, and with the addition of the Munford, Tenn., and Holly Springs, Miss., offices now has 12.

"The concept is a very good one," said Dr. Kenneth Nadeau, Internal Medicine Associates of West Memphis, who refers patients to the Family Cancer Center office in West Memphis.

"People who have malignancies are often weak and it's difficult for them to travel. (Family Cancer Center) is very convenient for the patients to see."

West Memphis could benefit from a number of other specialties following suit, he said.

When practices were concentrated in the Downtown Memphis area, doctors were much more willing to travel to West Memphis to treat patients who weren't very mobile, Nadeau said.

But now, most practices are clustered in the eastern parts of Shelby County and are much less willing to travel.

The city is also served by orthopedic and neurology specialists who spend at least one day a week in West Memphis, but that still leaves a number of medical area uncovered, Nadeau said.

The multi-office model is very popular in the oncology specialty because of the nature of the disease, said Michael Coppola, vice president of Health Directions, a medical practice consulting company in Chicago.

"There is a lot to be said for a strategy that says I'm taking my services to consumers, instead of the consumer coming to my services," he said.

The more treatment these patients can receive near their home, the better they are, Coppola said. The setup reduces patient stress and exertion.

"They tend to have better outlook and be more upbeat. It is very beneficial to the patient and to the physician."

But outside of specialties like oncology, the setup is not as common.

Most doctors prefer to see their patients in a setting that is near a hospital in case the patient needs to be admitted.

Family Cancer Clinic will most likely continue adding offices, expanding into new areas where referring doctors point out the greatest needs.

"We see ... that there is a need and people are happy to see us there providing the service," said Dr. Suhail Obaji with Family Cancer Center. "We are simply trying to serve more people."

- Maria Burnham: 529-2320

Source: Commercial Appeal, The

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