Thanking Dr. Miklos Simon and Compass Oncology
Dr. Miklos Simon, oncologist with Compass Oncology, first heard about Project Access from his group’s financial counselor, who told him about it in connection with a patient coming through the program. Because as a physician, Dr. Simon wants to treat patients, it is, in his words, “great to be in the position where I don’t have to say, ‘I can’t help you.’ It’s very rewarding to not have to turn anyone away.”
As an oncologist, Dr. Simon recognizes that cancer patients come with more than the terrible illness. “Patients without insurance are usually in more difficult situations that those with insurance. Their circumstances often mean visits also deal with social and psychological issues – I have to be a social worker and a psychologist sometimes. Those are as important as the treatment itself.”
It’s because Project Access helps alleviate the patients’ financial burden of health care that Dr. Simon felt assured in saying that the program “provides more help than one would think.”
What’s more, “[Project Access] makes treatment very smooth. I have had absolutely no difficulty with it, it’s not a burden at all. The steps are easy to follow for patients, and patients always make appointments. After the initial visit, I forget they’re uninsured. Everything is done by administrative staff. If both the patient and I know financially things are taken care of, we can focus on treatment.”
Dr. Simon appreciates being in a group that participates in Project Access across the Portland metropolitan area. “We don’t select patients based on insurance. I’m grateful for the program because it helps with that.”
As all physicians participating in Project Access, Dr. Simon encourages others to join. “It would be great to see other doctors participate. We became physicians to help, that’s the bottom line. If there’s a way to help and focus on healing, it would be hard to say we don’t want to do it. Project Access NOW helps move forward with the notion that there is no limit to help. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s very rewarding.”
(March 2010)
