Cancer doctor shortage intensifies as 2 Tri-Cities oncologists resign. What’s being done
Trios Health is bringing in temporary oncologists this week to treat and diagnose cancer patients after both of its oncologists have resigned from the Kennewick hospital and healthcare system.
One left in July and the other left last week.
Trios is working to recruit permanent oncologists and plans to continue its cancer program with no changes, it said in a statement.
“Our team empathizes deeply with the uncertainties patients may be feeling and continue to work to address any needs that may arise,” Trios said. “We are grateful for collaboration with regional cancer care partners who have helped to provide oncology care on a case-by-case basis as we navigate this transition.”
Patients have contacted the Tri-City Herald saying they have been looking for care in other parts of Washington state, including in Yakima County, Spokane or Seattle.
Officials with Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, which owns and operates the nonprofit Tri-Cities Cancer Center, said they have done what they can to pick up the slack after Trios lost its providers.
Kadlec, which has five medical oncologists and additional nurse practitioners, has set up a triage system to accept patients with the most urgent needs.
That has meant a pause on referrals for hematology patients in its hematology and oncology practice, which treats patients with blood diseases or cancer, to provide care to additional cancer patients.
Almost half the referrals in the hematology and oncology practice are patients with hematological conditions rather than cancer, said Dr. Richard Meadows, chief medical doctor for in the Kadlec medical group.
Hematological conditions are usually not emergencies, but rather chronic long-term issues such as low platelet counts or unusual white cell counts that are not cancer, he said.
The doctors at the cancer center are accepting transfers of patients with active cancer cases that need to be treated, which is done through its triage system with a review of their medical chart.
There are some additional patients with cancer who are receiving palliative treatment, not to cure their cancer but to ease suffering. Kadlec has been working with Trios to get information on those patients.
Kadlec’s Tri-Cities Cancer Center also has radiation oncologists and has worked to shift primary management of some patients being treated with radiation from its medical oncologists to radiation oncologists, to free up medical oncology resources.
Trios said it continues to work closely with all impacted patients and a smooth transition of care is its top priority, as it is with any physician departure.
“Trios Health recognizes the importance of these services to our community, and we are committed to ensuring access to high quality oncology services moving forward,” it said.
