Health & Oncology Services Professionals Bring More Than a Century of Combined Service to Cancer Patients

In any endeavor, whether it be business, politics, sports, research or medicine, perhaps the most important attribute that enhances success is experience. This is particularly true in a field as intricate, dynamic and critical as cancer care, where a total team approach is the proven most effective method of delivering the medical and emotional support a patient needs to fight the illness. Health & Oncology Services, Inc. boasts more than a century of combined years of service to patients, and this, more than anything is what makes them unique.

Founded by Dr. Mary Klein in 1987, Health & Oncology Services provides state-of-the-art care for patients with cancer or hematological disorders such as anemia, sickle cell, bone marrow failure syndrome and other diseases of the blood. And from its inception, the goal has been to assemble a team of professionals with enough experience to give patients the care they deserve.

"With experience comes not only knowledge, but also savvy and instinct," Dr. Klein explains. "We often have to quickly react to sudden changes in a patient's condition and in those cases there is no substitute for the natural instincts a professional develops after years and years of work in the field."

Empathy with patients and their families is also a learned trait. "The psychological impact of these conditions is often as difficult to deal with as the pathology," she says. "The more years you're in the business the better you are at using empathy and genuine concern and caring as critical parts of the therapy."

Dr. Klein, a graduate of the Medical College of Pennsylvania earned her oncology/hematology fellowship at Hines Veteran Administration Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. In 1983 she received her Board Certification in Internal Medicine and in 1985 in Medical Oncology. In all, she has more than 22 years in the medical field.

The "familiar faces" that greet patients, set up their appointments, answer their questions and make things easier for them bring more than 17 years combined service to the organization. Four nurses who work closely with patients in the office and interact with them and their families boast 22 years experience. The remainder of the staff is rounded out by an office support team whose goal is to help make the insurance filing and billing process as easy as possible for the patients.

"Every person on our team realizes that they have an impact on the care of our patients," Dr. Klein explains. "The way they’re greeted when they walk in the door, the fact that their insurance is filed properly and the way we take the time to listen, are all important to our mission of healing, and we think our patients really appreciate that."

Health & Oncology offices are located at 1190 North State Road 49 in Porter and 3170 Willowcreek Road in Portage.