View from the Top
Oncology Associates Caring for People When They Need It Most
By Roxy Orr
When your life is turned upside down by a cancer diagnosis, how will you feel? Lost, scared, wondering who you can trust with your treatment? I recently sat down with Dr. Irina Popa, the sole proprietor of Oncology Associates, P.C., to understand what makes her practice special to her patients and staff. The team at Oncology Associates, she says, understands
how essential it is to see new patients as quickly as possible. At Oncology Associates, they strive to make sure their patients are cared for physically and emotionally from that very first assessment. The practice was created in 1985 by Dr. Herbert Hartman, who was committed to creating a practice built on compassion. He was the sole practitioner covering Methodist Hospital and was one of several specialists to start outreach clinics in Nebraska at the request of Methodist. Dr. Popa recalls many stories told of Dr. Hartman’s adventures getting to and from the clinics, especially in Nebraska’s winters. “One time, the ice and snow were so bad that he was driving with his head out the window to be able to see the road,” she shares. Dr. Hartman continued serving these clinics even after Methodist ended the program. Today, Oncology Associates still has outreach clinics in Norfolk and Blair. Dr. Popa has been a partner at Oncology Associates for 13 years. She credits Dr. Hartman with teaching her the business side of the practice, which has been extremely beneficial. She reviews every case to make sure she is familiar with each patient’s history and treatment. “Each patient is an individual and reacts differently to disease and treatment,” she notes. “I think I work 85 percent of my waking hours,” she says. So much of Dr. Popa’s time is devoted to the practice, that her husband and two sons come up to the office on the weekends just to have the family together. Dr. Popa makes every effort to keep her patients’ well-being in mind. This is one reason that it’s so important to screen new patients as soon as possible— people who are newly diagnosed with cancer don’t want to wait for a consultation. Dr. Popa is often able to see patients within a day or two; sometimes, even the very same day she gets the referral. The next step is for the staff to collect data as quickly and completely as possible, so a treatment plan can be developed. Honest communication with patients is vital to make sure they understand their treatments. Once a treatment plan is in place, the team meets as a group to make sure that everyone
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understands the plan. One of the reasons that the patients at Oncology Associates do well during treatment, Dr. Popa asserts, is the attention that the staff pays to the adverse reactions that chemotherapy can cause. “We don’t just write the order without looking into what the toxicities are,” she explains. “We are very proactive and give certain treatments up front to avoid adverse reactions.” Dr. Popa is triple-boarded in oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. It is a great advantage, she says, to have all of these perspectives when dealing with complex cases. She is proud of her knowledgeable and caring team of advanced practitioners and nurses. These professionals make Oncology Associates a caring and compassionate place. Dr. Popa is excited to announce that Dr. Tim Dorius joined the practice in August. He and his family are happy to return to the Omaha area, which they grew to love while he was advancing his medical training at UNMC. Dr. Dorius did a residency in internal medicine and is board-certified in oncology and hematology. “He is a wonderful physician,” Dr. Popa says. “He’s respected in the Omaha medical community, and I’m looking forward to having him as part of the practice.” If a cancer diagnosis has turned your life upside down, consider Oncology Associates, P.C. These caring practitioners are committed to using their multidisciplinary expertise to provide the most advanced treatment and care with empathy and compassion. For more information and patient testimonials, visit them online at www.oncology.associates. Their offices in Omaha are located at 8303 Dodge Street, Suite 225 (402-354-5860), and 515 North 162nd Street, Suite 303 (402-354-0970). Their outreach clinics are in Norfolk (402-354-5860) and Blair (402-426-1239). WE
Dr. Irina Popa
