Community Cancer Center North

I am a nurse practitioner and a patient at Mayo Clinic. I have a very rare condition. I am part of a study at Mayo and need my blood drawn every 3 months to determine my treatment plan.nnI saw Dr. Walling at Community North Cancer Center for the 1st time this week. She said she could work with Mayo since they are the leading experts in my condition. Maybe worldwide experts as well.nnI told her I needed to have blood drawn and sent to Mayo soon. The previous results from local labs were so off, that I was told to have additional imaging that wasn’t needed. The lab info was simply very inaccurate. Dr. Walling said she knew that results could be very different from various labs and acknowledged that using the Mayo lab was the best thing to do.nnWhen I asked her clinic to draw my blood and allow me to take it to FED EX to have shipped overnight on dry ice, the answer was that it was against their policy. When asked why, no one could give me a reason. I even offered to supply the dry ice. When asked to have Dr. Walling call me, she had a nurse call me to say “No!”nnIn a previous position, as a nurse practitioner, I shipped specimens on dry ice to the NIH (National Institute of Health) for a research project. I know all too well the disappointment of the researchers and damage to a project when specimens arrived late and with melted ice.nnI was told to go to MACL or Labcorp. These labs don’t just draw blood to be sent elsewhere for processing. They refused to help me. They want to process the labs themselves. It seems to be a financial issue.nnSo, if you are looking for a place where your medical needs will be met and you will be dealt with in a honest manner, in my experience this is not the place to go. This office and provider need to wake up and put a person’s medical needs at the top of their list. Not to mention - where’s the customer service, where’s the opportunity to establish a doctor-patient relationship?nnWe live in an age where BIG data is used to determine the best course of treatment for patients. For rare diseases, places like Mayo need to have consistent and accurate data to treat people so you and I and your family will have the best chance for a quality life and someday a cure. That is why consistent and accurate lab results matter and this is why this is such a BIG deal for me and EVERYONE else.nnVote with your feet. Chose a place for your care that can meet your medical needs no matter how big or small this is. Go to a place where you will be dealt with honestly and where you are important enough to be treated as an individual and not as a policy that no one understands.

Very nice personel on my visit. We will see if they can cure my cancer.

My father was a patient there for several years. He had terminal lung cancer, and the doctors, practitioners, nurses, and others treated my dad like family. He completely trusted Megan, who was with him every step of the way! She would answer his emails promptly and could reassure him when he felt at his worst. She was my dad's angel! My family and I are going to be forever grateful for the quality time she and the others gave to us to be with our dad.

Staff are very nice and professional. Dr. Lowery(Gynecological Cancer Center) is a fantastic doctor. Very down to earth guy, and will sit and explain everything to you. They always get me in on time, and I am not there very long. That is very much appreciated. Very nice facility. The gentlemen that was a volunteer in the lobby was so friendly, and helpful. Here are the two reasons I gave four stars, instead of five. When we came in February, they did not tell me in the apt reminder phone call that children under 18 were not allowed upstairs due to flu restrictions. Had my husband not been with me, I would have had to turn around and drive back home without being seen. An hour there and an hour back. That was very frustrating. I wanted him to be able to speak to Dr. Lowery, but he had to stay in the lobby with our two children. Also, if you want to apply for financial assistance, they require three months of bank statements. That is none of their business, and I feel that is a bit much. Sounds like a good way to keep people from applying for financial aid. I agree with the other documentation required(pay stubs and tax forms), as most other hospitals do.

First time bringing a client to community north cancer center. Everyone we interacted with were Professional, passionate, caring staff. Sam the nurse was phenomenal the entire time. The volunteer ladies kept bringing us snacks and smiles.