02-22-2023 Primetime Living - Flipbook - Page 6
6 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, February 22, 2023
CANCER
Advancing
cancer care in a
community setting
Maryland Oncology Hematology
focuses on patients’ priorities
By Linda L. Esterson, Contributing Writer
Dr. Benjamin Bridges
A
dvances in oncology over the past decade have improved treatments for a
wide variety of cancers. Immunotherapy and targeted treatments are being
used as standards of care for a majority of cancers leading to better outcomes
for patients.
Maryland Oncology Hematology in
Annapolis provides care for patients utilizing the newest treatments and technologies available, often as part of the latest
clinical trials and research studies. The
private practice is led by an expert team
of nine physicians, each of whom specialize in various blood disorders and cancer
disciplines.
“This is unusual for a community practice,” says Benjamin Bridges, M.D., a physician partner specializing in the treatment of
thoracic, gastrointestinal and lung cancers.
“When patients come and see us, they’re
getting specialty care that you would see in
academic institutions but they’re getting it
in the community, close to home.”
Benefits for patients
The practice, which joined Maryland
Oncology Hematology 2 1/2 years ago,
gives patients access to the area’s top
oncologists, who trained at the most
renowned medical centers in the United
States and remain current through continuing education, journal papers and research.
The practice philosophy, Dr. Bridges notes,
is to provide the level care normally associated with a leading academic institution. All
physician partners meet for a weekly tumor
board to discuss new cases in all disciplines including breast, thoracic, GI, lung,
prostate, kidney and bladder, GYN as well
as general oncology/hematology.
“All of our physicians weigh in with their
opinion on how they would approach case
management,” says Dr. Bridges. “No matter who the patient sees, they’re getting
that expert level opinion on what’s being
done.” The physicians as a group create
management plans for these cases and
collaborate on treatment options when
there are multiple modalities available.
The clinic, located on Bestgate Road,
incorporates state-of-the-art technology,
a full-service lab and a dedicated infusion
center to give patients what they need
in one convenient location. There’s also
access to genetic counselors, social workers, patient navigators and other supports
“that make traversing a scary diagnosis like
cancer a lot easier,” Dr. Bridges explains.
Patients also find less of a financial
responsibility when they seek care from a
private practice like Maryland Oncology
Hematology instead of turning to a hospital-based program. Often, hospital programs charge administrative and facility
fees above and beyond care costs. A
recent study published in JCO Oncology
Practice, an American Society of Clinical
Oncology Journal, found that the mean
total cost of care across tumor types is
37% lower for patients treated in community-based practices compared to hospitalbased outpatient practices. Depending on
the diagnosis, costs were found to be 20%
to 39% lower.
Maryland Oncology Hematology
patients have the opportunity to participate
in research trials in conjunction with their
treatment, and the majority of the cost, if
not all, is covered by insurance. The size
of the practice and its affiliations across
the country provide access to opportunities that otherwise might not be available
to patients. Collaborations with leading
researchers enable patients to enroll in
studies without the need to travel to an
academic institution.
Advancing cancer care,
continued on page 26