Clinical Component

Navigating the Clinical Component

Your practice will be mostly outpatient. Clinic is at the cancer center, and inpatient work is limited to oncology consults at St. Vincent Regional Hospital. The cancer center treats nearly all oncology cases in-house, sponsors an active clinical trials program, and gives you direct access to radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, and general surgery colleagues.

Clinical Snapshot

Item	Detail
Setting	Outpatient cancer center with an inpatient consult service
Patient Population	Adults
Inpatient Role	Consulting only; hospitalists admit
Inpatient Census	About 3 to 5 oncology patients on a given day
Weekday Call	1:4, Monday to Thursday, starting at 5 p.m.
Weekend Call	1:4, Friday 7 a.m. to Monday 7 a.m.
EMR	Epic
Clinical Trials	About 40 active sponsored studies, Phase 1b to Phase 3

Scope of Practice

The cancer center follows a general community oncology model. You will treat a broad mix of solid tumors and hematologic conditions, and very few cases leave the region.

Solid tumor oncology across disease sites
Hematology consultations
Bone marrow biopsies
Diagnosis and treatment planning
Infusion therapy, managed on site
Oral oncology therapy, with on-site pharmacist support

Hematology Growth

The current group's capacity has limited how much hematology the cancer center takes on. Oncology reviews many hematology cases and sends recommendations back to primary care physicians for ongoing management. With an added physician, the practice can bring more of these patients into the clinic. If you want a larger hematology practice, the volume is there.

Referrals Out

Acute leukemia cases are referred to Denver or Salt Lake City.
Most other cancer care stays in Billings, including surgical cases, which are handled by a strong local general surgery team.

Inpatient Coverage and Call

Hospitalists admit patients at St. Vincent Regional Hospital, and oncology serves as the consulting service. On your call day, you check on the group's hospitalized patients. The hospitalist group is experienced and contacts oncology only when needed, so trips to the hospital after hours are infrequent.

Call Component	Detail
Weekday Call	One weeknight in four, Monday to Thursday, beginning at 5 p.m.
Weekend Call	One weekend in four, Friday 7 a.m. to Monday 7 a.m.
Friday Clinic	The physician on weekend call works Friday clinic; others are off
Inpatient Rounds	On your call day, for the group's patients
Virtual Rounds	Available and used regularly by the current physicians
Off-Day Rounds	Optional

Clinical Support

On-site lab, with results in about 20 minutes so patients can be seen the same day
On-site pharmacists, including oral oncology pharmacy support
Triage nursing
Infusion services in the cancer center
Telehealth for outreach and follow-up visits
Clinical research staff on site

Multidisciplinary Care

Radiation oncology: Located in the same building, with a linear accelerator installed in 2020 and a second treatment vault available for expansion
Gynecologic oncology: Three gynecologic oncologists are part of the cancer program and practice at the West Clinic location.
General surgery: A strong local team handles most surgical oncology cases.
Intermountain Health: You can consult disease specialists across the system by phone or video conference and take part in system clinical councils.

Clinical Research

The cancer center runs an active, sponsor-supported clinical research program, staffed by a dedicated research manager and team. The program enrolls patients across nearly all disease sites. New physicians are welcome to join existing trials and to propose new studies.

About 40 active studies
Phase 1b through Phase 3
Hematology, solid tumor, and gynecologic oncology trials
Sponsored studies; no investigator-initiated studies to date
Open to new study areas proposed by incoming physicians