Providence St. Mary Regional Cancer Center - Walla Walla

Two days ago my wife died of metastatic breast cancer. I waited until now to write a review of this regional cancer center, because I knew that writing it was going to be a positive experience and that I would need positive experiences this week.nnWe spent over two years interacting with this facility and its employees. We judged it by our day-to-day experiences, our own research on my wife's illness and treatment, and second opinions from oncologists at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Our final verdict was that it is a fabulous place, where the medical standard of care for her was always met and where we felt welcome, informed, listened to, and trusted as co-decision-makers in the care she was offered and chose.nnOf course the core medical capabilities and decisions are the most important, but how a place and its people make you feel is important too—especially when patients are stressed and grieving. They really shined here, from reception to nursing to procedure techs to the oncology MDs. If we needed questions answered outside of a traditional appointment, we had only to tell reception or leave a message for a nurse, and the answer (or sometimes a call directly from a doctor) would come back within hours. Prescription changes or fixes to mistakes that were of our own making were handled same-day, or same-hour if necessary to beat closing times. Docs stood in for each other signing important documents, etc. Turnaround time on records to other facilities or to insurance was always prompt, without us having to watchdog the process. Keeping these standards up for two years does not happen by accident; yet this was also the least bureaucratic medical experience I have been witness to. Astounding.nnSince we, like the negative reviewer of a throat cancer experience I see here, went through both early-stage treatment and a recurrence or spread of the cancer, I want to say something about that. I certainly took a hard look at the process that had been followed: early-stage detection, speed of scheduling procedures, post-surgery treatment decisions, and imaging or lack thereof. All online sources (American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and others), as well as the docs at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, supported the decisions and recommendations made by our Walla Walla docs. We just don't win every time. Cunningham was not our primary oncologist, but we did see him several times. We actually found him to be the most thorough listener and questioner in the building. I know only of our own case; but I wanted to be sure to share that given the other experience that was shared here last year.nnFinally, the nurses for the oncologists and the chemo center were just lovely folks. The chemo center was a refuge for my wife: she felt good going there, perked up to enjoy the people and the food, and knew they would bend over backwards to make sure she was physically comfortable at all times. Appointment days were good days. What more needs to be said?

This place was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. My dad got cancer in his throat the first part went all and he got through it. The problems arise afterwards. He was scheduled for very few appointments to make sure the cancer was not growing. After about 12 months he started having sharp pains in the same area. We went to walla walla and they decided just to scope it to see what was goin on no scans. They told him things looked fine only to move 6 months later to the Portland are and find out that it wasn't fine, it had come back awhile ago and was to the point of a major problem. Like my dad going into the ER type problem. The weeks before my dad moved to portland dr cunningham ordered the scans that should have been done when he went on the first time to find out some things were wrong, but at that point it was too late to surgically remove. Walla Walla had no reasons for the scans they were just 30 thousand dollars for no reason, since my dad was moving to portland. The scans were useless to providence in Portland so at that point made no sense. They should have scanned him when he went in for the pain and they would have found the problem. So now my dad is waiting to die cause of Dr Cunningham laziness and possibly greed. I can't believe this type of stuff happens in the health care world. What a sad world we live in. They won't give us an answeer as to why the scans took place and Dr Cunningham dodges my dad's phone calls and doesnt call him back. At least have the courage to admit to someone your taking them for a ride. Oh but they said they were sry a bunch so I guess that makes it all good right? And the worst part is the doctors at providence here in Portland have a look when they talk about it like they know what happened but don't want to go there. They have made some pretty interesting comments about there feelings about it off record.