Benefits of a Community Doctor

At various points, I’ve seen statistics on how many of us are treated in a community practice versus an academic center. From what I’ve seen, this information is often shared with a bit of an edge or bias since there are many pros and cons to both. Generally, a community practice is not affiliated with a university or other academic center and typically doesn’t offer many opportunities to participate in research while academic centers often have clinicians who are doing both research and treating patients. I’ve been treated in a variety of settings, often simultaneously, so I’ve been able to compare them in real time.

At the present time, I am participating in a clinical trial at an NCI designated cancer center — this is also another layer when an academic center is focused on research. While there are certainly some people within this large organization who are caring and focused on patients, it is hard not to feel like a number or a cog in a really big wheel. Since this center is a few hours away, I also have a local oncologist who is in more of a community practice. This practice is within a hospital system, but my doctor is focused on clinical practice and doesn’t participate in as much research as my doctor at the larger cancer center.

Recently, I asked to be referred to a pulmonologist because of some scan results showing scarring in my lungs and to be prepared for a line of treatment I anticipate taking in the future once the clinical trial is no longer working. While it did take some months to get an appointment since my concerns are truly not an emergency, upon arriving at this new specialist’s office, I realized very quickly how much my local doctor had paved the way for me. Not only did this new specialist have a very good handle on my medical history, he had already spoken with my local oncologist and had a good idea of how to handle me as a patient. 

As we talked and reviewed the current regimen that I’m on and I asked about specific tests that I wanted to do in order to be prepared to take medication in the future that may affect my lungs, the new doctor indulged my need to get into the weeds of how the medication worked and why particular side effects occurred. He pulled up tests that had been done in the past and showed me pictures of different lungs so that I could compare those pictures to my own scans. Before I left that first appointment (on a Thursday), he had called the respiratory therapist at a local hospital to arrange for a pulmonary function test the following Monday, which accommodated all of the driving I need to do for my clinical trial and my schedule involving my children.

As I walked away from this experience with a new specialist who listened and heard me as well as ensuring that I could fit cancer care into my life versus the other way around, I was struck with a new appreciation for local, community care. While I absolutely appreciate all of the benefits of a larger center and am obviously benefiting from seeking care there, I am reminded how having a local doctor is so very helpful too and thankful to be well cared for by her.