Leading the way in cancer treatment
For nearly 120 years, the Annapolis community has lived with the comfort that our hospital is there for them in time of need, always working to provide the highest-quality, affordable care.
In these challenging times, Luminis Health’s not-for-profit hospital, Anne Arundel Medical Center, continues to be there for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay or who their doctor is. The worldclass LHAAMC cancer program remains a beacon of hope — offering trusted, coordinated cancer treatment with compassion.
Recently some questions have been raised about our cancer program and the oncologists who left to join Maryland Oncology Hematology, which is associated with McKesson, a Fortune 7 healthcare giant.
Providing patient-centered care is our foundation. Our hospitalists, who direct most inpatient care, constantly communicate with other healthcare providers to ensure the best treatment possible. Connecting people — in holistic, community-based care — runs through everything we do.
Building on this bedrock foundation, I want to stress three longstanding commitments to our patients and community.
First, LHAAMC is actively investing to lead the way in cancer care — from prevention, diagnosis, surgery, treatment, recovery and survivorship.
While we did not expect the oncologists to leave for Maryland Oncology Hematology, we were able to recruit seven new top-level oncologists to join LHAAMC because of our reputation for combining leading-edge science and community-based care.
Their impressive backgrounds include a tenured faculty position at George Washington University School of Medicine, Ivy League training, and expertise in clinical trials. With their knowledge and expertise, our cancer program continues to offer high-quality care and hope to patients throughout their treatment journey.
Second, patient choice is important. We understand the close relationship that cancer patients have with their oncologists, and want to reassure you that cancer patients can continue with their current oncologists or one of our new oncologists and still receive trusted care from LHAAMC.
The doctor-patient relationship is crucial, if not sacred. We believe that. When a patient is admitted to LHAAMC, their care is coordinated by our doctors who regularly collaborate with oncologists from other health systems.
We will always — and always have — share treatment and clinical updates with specialist physicians in the community, no matter their affiliation. And we will continue to find innovative ways to work with all physicians to improve the care in this community — whether they are affiliated with our organization or not.
Third, all doctors are welcome to visit patients at the hospital and confer with the attending physician at LHAAMC. That means any doctor without “privileges” — which grant doctors the ability to practice in a hospital — can still check-in on patients and discuss the care process with physicians here.
Patients are referred to LHAAMC from external practices all the time, including for surgery, radiation, and imaging. In addition, our electronic medical record is accessible to doctors outside the hospital through EpicCare Link, allowing them to check-in on patients, securely message the treating provider, and review diagnostics, test results and documents.
When the oncologists gave notice last April they were leaving, we tried to explore ways to remain aligned with them. They chose to pursue a new career opportunity with Maryland Oncology Hematology, a decision we respect.
We understand changes in our oncology program and complex economic dynamics in healthcare, amid a pandemic, can seem confusing. The one constant through it all is LHAAMC’s commitment to invest as a leader in cancer treatment, to give patients choices, and to collaborate so that we all live healthier together.
Because we know how important communication is, especially when receiving cancer care, we encourage anyone with questions or concerns to call us: 443-4816620.
We are proud to serve this community through COVID-19, through the birth of your children, through trips to the ER, and through care for life-threatening diseases. Our mission is you.