April 19, 2009

So I was sitting in the chemo room last Wednesday, just observing my environment, as usual. As a five-time cancer survivor, I have been coming to Dr. Jeff’s office for more than 9 years now. But during this particular visit, I tied some of my past with my NOW, and hatched an idea. In a flicker of apparent mental clarity, I realized that even cancer’s membership has its privileges.

When I’m at Dr. Jeff’s office, I get the warmest, collective, preferential treatment possible. So much so, that I actually enjoy my time spent there, even in the “Chemo Lounge.” Dr. Jeff and staff treat me with the respect of someone who understands cancer almost as much as an oncologist. Well to a certain degree anyway. ;-) And they combine that respect with a love saved for old friends.

But back to my story of observation from last Wednesday. I realized that I literally walk “behind the scenes” of this very busy, very profitable oncology practice. (Dr. Jeff is the head of Oncology for both the Beaumont AND the Botsford Hospital systems. For those not local to the Midwest, Dr. Jeff is pretty much “Da Cancer Man!”)

During my many, many hours in his facilities, I’ve witnessed just about all of the office politics, process flows, decision-making authorities, technology implementations and reengineering efforts that have transpired. I see how all the staff interacts with patients, co-workers and doctors. I’ve been able to form an idea of how each employee ticks and what’s important to them. So where am I going with all of this?

I used to be a pharmaceutical representative, early on in my sales career. As such, my goal was to deliver a message of features and benefits, associated with my drugs, to every staff member, in every doctor’s office in my territory. It was really quite a task. And it was made more difficult because I was an outsider. As a cancer patient, I’ve witnessed how the conversations, attitudes and actions of the staff change when a “drug rep” is in the office. The poor reps never truly get the whole truth about the goings-on in their doc’s offices. It’s not the fault of the pharma rep; it’s just human nature to watch what you say based on who’s listening.

So, my newest concept is: “Why don’t pharmaceutical companies hire cancer survivors as some sort of short-term consultant, at the end of their treatments?” We are the resident experts on how things ACTUALLY work in those offices. We have been sitting around for months, sometimes years, just watching and interacting with all of the folks in that practice. We have formed friendships and working relationships with these folks at a level that can’t be matched by any “outsider.”

And who needs some extra money more than a cancer patient? With all the costs associated with health care, I’d say no one.

Further, why wouldn’t the doctors and nurses appreciate a drug rep who “really understands them?” The reps can learn how each practice really wants to do business and adjust their selling accordingly. It’s seems like a win/win/win to me.

I think it’s an all-around good idea. (Then again, it is MY idea. Ha-ha!) But I’m just shooting from the hip on this one and I’d love to hear what y’all think. Please share your thoughts with thousands of other cancer peeps and “Leave a Message” below….