Like many small hospitals, Doylestown (Pa.) Health provides cancer care but often sees patients going to larger centers such as Fox Chase Cancer Center or Penn Medicine, both based in Philadelphia. This has led Sean Reinhardt, MD, chief medical officer at Doylestown, to ask, "How can we create a cancer care environment that people want to stay in?"
"I'd love to create a place where patients don't feel like they have to go to bigger systems for cancer care," Dr. Reinhardt told Becker's. Doylestown has 247 beds.
He said the best way to do that is to partner. Teaming up with a bigger-name system can let the community know each patient will receive access to the full spectrum of medical care without having to travel for it.
"That's what everyone deserves, and that's what everyone wants," he said.
Smaller systems can also better utilize their strengths of giving patient care a personal touch.
"That's easier to do at a smaller institution, and that's what we strive to do — give everyone the full spectrum, but with a hometown flavor," Dr. Reinhardt said.