Cancer is not a word anyone likes to hear, especially when statistics like the fact that 1.4 million new cases of it will be diagnosed this year float around the media. A New York Times article featured a Seattle woman whose colon cancer puzzled her doctors.

Karen Pasqualetto was, admittedly, frustrated over the multiple diagnoses and prognoses she received. In the article Pasqualetto claims, “I don’t feel I have a doctor who is looking out for my care. My oncologist is terrific, but he’s an oncologist. The surgeon seems terrific, but I have found him through my own diligence. I have no confidence in the system.”

When patients don’t have confidence in the medical system, obviously there are systemic problems within the oncological medical world. Cancer is undoubtedly hard to treat, as it requires a minimum of three doctors. Treatment decisions are tough, too. Furthermore, the quality of cancer care varies among doctors and hospitals, muddling the ability to distinguish what is the best treatment.

The inability to choose a best treatment is even admitted by government and medical groups. A 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine in Washington stated that, “There is a wide gulf between what could be construed as the ideal and the reality of [one’s] experience with cancer care.”

One avenue hospitals and doctors could travel down to ensure the best practices for cancer treatment is referring cases to independent review organizations. IROs like AllMed can use their clinical expertise to decide what is the best practice for the patient, every time. Moreover, referring difficult-decision cases to IROs helps hospitals establish a consistent treatment plan.
To read the full article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/health/29Cancer.html?_r=1&oref=slogin