13 reasons why you should choose Salem Oncology Center for your cancer treatment

Philip A. Salem, M.D., President of Salem Oncology Center (SOC) and the doctor responsible for the treatment of every patient at the Center, has more than 50 years of experience in cancer medicine and cancer research. He trained at two prestigious cancer centers in the U.S.: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center established a Salem Cancer Research Chair as a tribute to his contributions to cancer medicine.

Dr. Salem has the flexibility and freedom to choose what he considers to be the best treatment for each patient based on science. He is not limited by an institutional protocol, and he is not limited by insurance policies as Salem Oncology Center does not honor insurance or third-party payers. Dr. Salem believes that adhering to insurance requirements would be a major obstruction to the delivery of the best care.

Salem Oncology Center has on staff an experienced medical oncologist, Dr. Khaled Jabboury, and an experienced internist, Dr. William McCallum, who help Dr. Salem deliver the best possible care for his patients.

Patients at Salem Oncology Center are seen daily by doctors. Dr. Salem believes that daily contact between doctor and patient provides a high level of monitoring of ongoing care that can make a difference in patient outcomes.

Supportive treatment is an integral component of anticancer therapy as it helps reduce the side effects of anticancer drugs and improves the quality of life as much as possible.

Patients are seen daily, including weekends and holidays, by the same doctor and nurse team, who come to know the patient very well. This assures smooth and uninterrupted continuity of care. The Center functions like a day hospital and is open every day of the year.

Patients have direct access to doctors and nurses. They may call Salem Oncology Center at any time. Should a doctor determine that the patient needs care during the night, the patient’s familiar clinical team is available to respond.

Imaging studies (usually x-rays) are discussed with radiologist Randall Stenoien, M.D., Director of Houston Medical Imaging. Dr. Stenoien has worked with Dr. Salem for more than 25 years and is thoroughly apprised of every patient’s medical background. Even when imaging studies are read at the imaging center by one or more experts, Dr. Stenoien presents and discusses them with Dr. Salem via group consultation in the presence of the patient and family. This mechanism, which is unique to Salem Oncology Center, provides a thorough and appropriate discussion of the findings among Dr. Stenoien, Dr. Salem, the patient, and the family, which gives the patient and family members the opportunity to ask Dr. Stenoien or Dr. Salem specific questions about the x-rays.

Dr. Salem is a strong believer in the power of science and knowledge, but he also believes that knowledge alone in the treatment of cancer is not enough to help the patient achieve a cure. Cancer patients need to be embraced by love and compassion. A patient should be given real hope, not false hope, and a reason to persevere in the treatment. This human dimension to the treatment of cancer is important. The patient should be treated as a beloved, unique person. Patients should feel that they are loved by the treatment team. Hope and perseverance are key factors in achieving treatment success.

Dr. Salem believes in the power of education. He believes that patients should not only be told the truth but should be thoroughly educated about their disease and its treatments. Patient education at Salem Oncology Center is considered a crucial component of treatment.

Teamwork is central to the practice of medicine at Salem Oncology Center. Dr. Salem routinely engages in group consultations with experts before he designs a strategy for treatment. In cancer medicine, teamwork is a must for achieving the best results. Although Dr. Salem consults regularly with specialists in every area, he is ultimately the doctor who makes final treatment decisions. He believes that a team is only a team when it has a leader.

Whenever a patient needs a consultation with a specialist, they are accompanied by one of our Patient Service staff or nurses. This provides smooth navigation for the patient and a bridge between the consultant and Dr. Salem. This staff member ensures that the consultant speaks to Dr. Salem after he/she evaluates the patient. Dr. Salem believes that to maximize the value of the consultation, this immediate communication between the consultant and Dr. Salem is extremely important.

Before discharging a patient from Salem Oncology Center (SOC), the Center can assist the patient and family to identify a doctor in their hometown who is willing to continue overseeing the treatment started at SOC. Dr. Salem usually speaks to the doctor prior to discharge. The patient then has the option of continuing treatment in their hometown under SOC staff supervision. The goal of this arrangement is to facilitate the continuity of quality care established at Salem Oncology Center.