Patient Choice in Cancer Care
As our patients know, respect is one of our core values. We’re committed to caring for patients as we would want to be cared for – with respect, dignity and empathy.
Choice is another of our key values. When it comes to choosing a doctor and a plan of action, we believe that patients should know all their options.
Unfortunately, in today’s competitive healthcare environment, many people with cancer don’t get the chance to choose. It happens all the time. The cancer diagnosis comes from your family doctor or other physician, who then refers you to an oncologist in the same health system. You’re locked into a network of providers without the opportunity to learn about your alternatives.
You Have the Right to Choose
Barry Goettsch, CEO of Compass Memorial Healthcare (formerly Marengo Memorial Hospital), doesn’t agree with that approach. He and his team have made a conscious decision to provide area residents with autonomy, choice and convenient options.
Compass Memorial Healthcare is a rural hospital system with a service area of about 15,000 citizens from ten communities. Mr. Goettsch indicates that: “The medical specialties available in rural communities can be a mixed bag. It’s our mission to provide remarkable care to the communities we serve. Part of that mission is to seek out specialty care so our citizens don’t have to drive to a larger area or wait long-term to see a specialist when they need to see someone now.”
“We partner with only the best experts. Like Dr. Ghosh.”
To make it easy for residents to see a specialist close to home, CMH partners with highly regarded experts, such as Dr. Ghosh. For years, Dr. Ghosh has seen oncology and hematology patients on a weekly basis at Compass Memorial Healthcare.
The relationship works well. In Mr. Goettsch’s words: “We seek out only the best to partner with.” He’s also proud that CMH has the autonomy to give people options when making decisions about their healthcare, rather than requiring them to use providers tied to a certain organization. He goes on to say that “Choice locally is about true choice – not the choices that people are giving you.”
Watch the Video
Want to hear from Barry Goettsch firsthand? Watch our interview and check out other videos on our YouTube.
Read about Dr. Ghosh’s $100,000 donation to expand cancer services in the Marengo area.
This post was originally published in February 2016.