HJAR Mar/Apr 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAR / APR 2020 55 AdamHead, FACHE President and Chief Executive Officer CARTI, Inc. later stage, which leads to a higher mortality rate in these rural areas. If they are able to receive access in a com- munity outside their own, this presents an- other set of challenges, including the toll that traveling to and from treatment can have on patients. They may travel two or more hours to receive treatment, and then have to spend another two or more hours traveling back home, possibly while experiencing un- comfortable side effects of their treatment. The ability to travel thirty minutes or less for treatment would allow themmore time to rest and recover. It is time we find local solutions for local problems. Each Arkansan, whether a per- son working in downtown Little Rock or a farmer in the Arkansas Delta, should have access to high-quality cancer care. With cancer diagnoses in Arkansas on the rise, leaning into aggressive solutions to address this disparity is of paramount importance. To do so, we need to redefine oncology care in general, and move toward a more community-based approach. From satel- lite locations specifically for patient follow- up visits and lab draws, to comprehensive cancer centers where patients can receive their daily, weekly, or monthly radiation and chemotherapy treatments, having locations in and around the communities where pa- tients live is a crucial step in reducing the gap in cancer care. By providing convenient locations, we can create access to care that does not put the burden on the patient to travel, often disrupting their everyday rou- tine. Community-based care brings together accessibility and trust, which we believe is the future of oncology care. A few months ago, I, along with some of our physicians, met with healthcare provid- ers from eight different rural towns in our state. Throughout our discussion, a com- munal theme came up time and time again; when it comes to healthcare, communities outside of Little Rock feel forgotten. That is not okay. When it comes to cancer care, it is not okay for patients to feel left behind. It is time that we, as a medical commu- nity, realize that the future of oncology care in Arkansas should be to go to the patients, because the best way to transform cancer care in the state and region is through meet- ing patients where they are. As we look ahead for the future of effec- tive, consistent, and trusted oncology care, the future is in community-based settings that allow patients to receive lifesaving can- cer care close to home. n After more than 12 years’ experience in healthcare administration,AdamHead joinedCARTI as president and CEO in September 2017. Adam drives CARTI’s mission for being the most advanced cancer treat- ment destination in Arkansas. In the past two years, Adam has been instrumental in guiding CARTI through a period of transformation, increasing op- erational revenue and expanding CARTI’s statewide presence to 16 locations in 14 communities, includ- ing four comprehensive cancer centers.Additionally, he has expanded the services that CARTI provides to patients and the general public. Recent specialty clinic openings include The Breast Center at CARTI, The Cancer Genetics and Risk Management Clinic, and CARTI Imaging North. “Community-based care brings together accessibility and trust, which we believe is the future of oncology care.”