Choosing a Hospital for Cancer Treatment
Our blog has discussed
how to communicate with your doctor and
how to make good medical decisions
so far, and today we tackle how to choose the right hospital for your
cancer treatment.
You are unique, and so is your cancer diagnosis. You have preferences,
concerns, goals, and motivating factors that are unique to
you, and your cancer treatment should reflect that. Therefore, you should
find a hospital that
understands and
prioritizes that when creating and implementing your cancer treatment plan.
Things to Consider
While each individual will find more factors more important than others,
or come up with different ones entirely on their own, here are some things
to consider when choosing a hospital for your cancer treatment:
(1) Quality over Quantity
As we have previously
discussed, statistics don’t always paint the reality of the situation. Focus
instead on the
quality of care you will be receiving at this hospital. You are an individual,
and deserve to be treated as such. Ask yourself if this hospital provide
you with the individualized care you want and need when you make your
decision. The right hospital will treat you as a person – not another
medical chart.
CMN hospital hosts an exclusive cancer wing that hosts
eleven beds at a time, which allows us to consistently focus on the
quality of your treatment. We don’t believe in a constant influx of new
patients – similar to herding cattle – because we believe
that fighting cancer is a journey that which deserves time and compassionate
care on an individual level. We work to create an environment that you
can feel comfortable in, and have discovered that that is not possible
when patients are treated by the masses.
(2) Doctors first, location second
One of the most important things to take into consideration when choosing
a hospital for treatment is who your doctors will be. This is arguably
more important than the location of the hospital because you will be spending
the most time with your doctors, working closely with them to create and
implement your cancer treatment plan. Therefore, it is crucial that you
are working with the right medical team: they should be people you trust,
and you should
always be a priority to them. The best doctors will always make time to
listen; you should never feel rushed during an appointment or meeting with them.
Our doctors are known for their ability to bond with their patients; they recognize
how significant and multifaceted the cancer battle is, so they implement
treatment that attacks cancer from all angles, including your mental and
emotional ability to fight with courage and transparency. You are an
individual human being to them, one that deserves compassionate care and to be treated with the utmost
respect and care. Our doctors promise to be a reliable and dependable,
even outside of scheduled appointments or treatments.
(3) Collaboration among doctors across disciplines
Rarely are cancer patients treated by a singular doctor; rather, they have
a team of specialists working with and for them on their cancer journey,
many of whom work under different disciplines. As such, when choosing
a hospital, it is important to learn about how often the doctors communicate,
and the way in which they choose to do so. Do they meet monthly to discuss
their individual patients or send frequent emails? Do they wait to talk
until a problem arises? This is a major factor to consider, as it can
prevent problems in the future due to the doctors of your team being unable
to communicate with each other. As such, look for a hospital that makes
it a priority and a habit to communicate across disciplines.
At CMN,
our doctors function as a team: not a day goes by that they are not communicating
with each other. They do this not because they have to, but because they
each enjoy what they do: they have a passion for cancer care and this
is translated into their everyday activities. They are deeply engaged
in what they do, and this attitude is infectious, which results in a positive
work environment that encourages and supports constant communication,
effective collaboration, and a team “can do” attitude.
(4) Pain management and specialists
A major concern that most patients have is how their pain will be managed,
or even eradicated through the proper combination of medication and treatments.
When choosing a hospital, it is imperative to choose one that makes your
pain management their number one priority. You should
never be in unbearable or exceptional pain during your treatments, and doctors
should be mindful of this without you having to ask.
CMN’s pain doctor,
Dr. Octavio Campa, is a leader in pain management and sets the standards high; to learn
more about him, and other members of our staff, click
here.
(5) Multifaceted approach to treatment
Cancer treatment is not just about focusing on the physical ailments: does
this hospital provide treatment that tends to your mental and emotional
wellbeing? Choosing a hospital that takes care and consideration for how
you are truly
feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically – the whole package –
will likely be more attentive overall. The right facility will understand
that and make effort to address and treat any mental or emotional side
effects that you are feeling as you embark on your cancer treatment. This
may include having a staff that is eager and willing to listen to you
vent, give you a hug, or provide moral support with positive words of
encouragement. Find a hospital that will treat you like a well-rounded,
multidimensional human being, not just another cancer patient.
CMN stands for compassionate care; as such, we treat patients physically,
emotionally, and mentally. We are constantly tending to our patients from
the minute they arrive to well beyond after they leave (through check
ins and support calls), and we know that the mental ability to fight plays
a major role in the cancer battle. To learn about some of the treatments
we offer, click
here or contact us
here.
(6) Cancer community and support system
Another factor you should consider when choosing a hospital is whether
or not there is a community or support system available for you. Are the
nurses just there to do their job and then leave, or do they truly care
about you? Are they going to bond with you and be your second family?
Having the hospital community become a second support system for you can
increase your comfort levels, ease your anxiety, and make a major difference
in your mental and emotional outlook during treatment. Further, does the
hospital work with your family member to make them feel involved? Finding
a hospital that will help your family stay involved in your treatment
(such as extending visiting hours if you were getting treatment earlier),
or helping them find a nearby hotel to visit, can make a major difference
in how comfortable you feel during your stay.
CMN takes purposeful steps to create a cancer community within the hospital:
our medical team and staff all have the same core values, the main one
being giving you the best, most well-rounded treatment possible. Further,
our hospital is designed so that our cancer unit is housed in a designated
wing. Our patients are not sprinkled recklessly throughout the hospital;
this is done partially to help protect their immune systems, but also
to help create a sense of community. You will be surrounded by other patients
who are fighting similar battles, and you will be able to bond with them
at your choosing (we also respect the privacy of our patients and take
steps to ensure each patient is given as much privacy as they desire),
helping you to create your own support community while you are staying
at the hospital.
(7) Your faith, trust, and involvement
The underlying principle throughout this blog is
you: you are ultimately in charge of your treatment, and that includes choosing
a hospital, but more importantly than that, you need to feel in charge
of your situation. Whatever hospital you choose, you must put your faith
and trust into the institution. The hospital you choose should respect
that and reciprocate the feelings by deeply involving you in the process.
This means that they should be available to answer any and all of your
questions, treat you like family, and make your comfort high on their
priority list.
For More Information
CMN Hospital provides exceptional alternative cancer treatment and is available
for to communicate with you about coming to our hospital. To contact us,
email us at
info@cmnact.com or click
here for other ways to contact us through your preferred method of communication.