|
As the website launched, it became increasingly apparent that health professionals understood the mission and accepted it with great enthusiasm...but patients didn’t seem to grasp what the services really are or how they can benefit.
Once explained, the concept is easily understood and the discussion is topped off with, “That is so needed”, “How do I sign up” and “I wish I had this service when I was diagnosed!”
I explain it this way: If a person is going deep sea fishing for the first time, most would likely hire a skipper to captain the boat. They do this because they know the risk of not using an experienced skipper would cause them to be overwhelmed with how to operate the boat, navigate the rough waters, where to go for the prime fishing locations, which bait to choose, how to reel in that big tuna and what to do with it when you got back to shore. It would be even more daunting if you didn’t choose to go in the first place, had no time to prepare for this journey and didn’t see the storm gathering in the distance.
Many patients think that their doctor should (naturally) be the skipper of the boat. Unfortunately because of the many constraints in today’s health care system, the doctor is the one choosing the bait and catching the big fish. To prevent getting lost at sea, navigating your cancer care requires that you (the patient) become the skipper..jpg)
Now, having cancer is not the same as going deep sea fishing but it is a simple analogy to show that in today’s health care climate, cancer patients must advocate for themselves. Cancer patients must drive the boat, understand the directions and make important decisions on the trip. This site is designed to help you become that skipper and avoid the inevitable storms that will likely endanger your journey.
Caught in the whirlwind of the cancer diagnosis or recurrence, patients are often confused, overwhelmed, scared and looking for help. Some find it difficult to sort and prioritize the overwhelming information while others struggle with even more basic needs of paying for services. Our goal is to partner with the patient and family at diagnosis through survivorship to optimize their care.
Simply stated, we are a
- a sounding board to hear all of your needs,
- a planner, to coordinate all the parts of your needs,
- a filter to sort the junk from the pertinent stuff,
- an educator and a translator to simplify and provide context to the tough stuff (medical information, clinical trials and data comparisons) and
- a champion for your care.
We are experienced and credentialed oncology professionals who provide guidance on the cancer experience- discussing your case in depth, exploring quality resources and developing an evidenced-based holistic care plan just for you. And as one patient recently wrote, “I can’t believe you are just a click away!”
So, get onboard, drive your boat, login for free services and get safely back to shore!
|
