From OncoLog, July/August 2007, Vol. 52, No. 7-8
Helping Physicians Help Patients
Some 7,000 physicians from around the world refer more than 13,000 patients to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center every year. With each of those referrals, important new relationships are created—and not only between the patient and the institution.
Just as important is the referring physician relationship, and it’s one to which M. D. Anderson has committed an entire department: the Office of Physician Relations. The office’s 32-member staff is dedicated to helping community physicians tap into the institution’s resources, navigate the referral process, and stay in touch with their patients’ progress.
“The majority of patients come to M. D. Anderson because their physicians referred them or told them to come,” said Lyle D. Green, associate vice president for Physician Relations. “We’re here to help those physicians in any way we can and to tell them about the treatments and programs that can benefit their patients.”
One of the department’s newest initiatives is myMDAnderson (https://my.mdanderson.org)—a Web-based patient care tool that is rapidly gaining popularity. Using myMDAnderson, community physicians can make detailed referrals online, sending a patient’s clinical and insurance information to the institution over a secure Internet connection. After a referral, myMDAnderson allows physicians to view patients’ appointment schedules and reports and send messages to the M. D. Anderson clinical staff.
“Community physicians tell me that myMDAnderson is very useful, especially for making patient information available promptly. Now, most documents related to patient care can be accessed through the Web site,” said Lewis Foxhall, M.D., vice president for health policy and co–medical director for Physician Relations. “We want to keep referring physicians informed about what’s happening with their patients while they are treated here.”
About 1,400 referring physicians are registered users of myMDAnderson. And while the hope is that this number will grow, the Web portal is not meant to replace person-to-person interaction. That’s why Physician Relations has a team of specialists ready to answer phone calls and e-mails about how to make referrals, use myMDAnderson, and keep up with patients after the referral.
Perhaps you want to know about one of the more than 1,000 clinical trials at M. D. Anderson. Or maybe you need information about the institution’s latest treatment facilities and initiatives or want to schedule a tour. Physician Relations can help with all of these.
Not all of the department’s activities are performed in Houston. A team of six nurses makes 3,500 annual visits to physicians, bringing them information about M. D. Anderson programs. The staff also arranges off-site continuing medical education, guest lectures from M. D. Anderson faculty, and conference exhibits on cancer research, treatment, and patient care.
For more information about these and other resources:
- Call Physician Relations at 713- 792-2202 or 1-800-252-0502.
- E-mail physicianrelations@mdanderson.org.
- Visit www.mdanderson.org/departments/physrelations/.
For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.
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