World Cancer Awareness Day: Truly Heard, Truly Cared For
The Importance of Being Heard in Healthcare
At Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, we believe every patient deserves to be truly heard and cared for. Our Direct Primary Care (DPC) model gives providers the time and flexibility to understand patients’ concerns fully. For Maggie, having a provider who truly listened made all the difference. It didn’t just improve her quality of life—it may have saved it.
Becoming A Member
Maggie’s journey with Exemplar Care began when her husband’s job at Hy-Vee gave her family access to our DPC membership through Aplos Health Plans. After great experiences in our urgent care and hearing about how we do primary care differently, her family decided to establish care. That decision, she now believes, changed her life.
Years of Dismissed Concerns
“I met Jen, the provider in Bondurant, in June and we discussed my concerns. I had dealt with constant vaginal bleeding for years,” Maggie shared. “Other providers kept calling my symptoms normal. They said I didn’t need further evaluation because I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14. I always had irregular periods and heavy bleeding, but I knew something was wrong. No one would listen.”
For years, Maggie felt dismissed. Insurance constraints and standard protocols shaped her care. But at Exemplar Care, Jen took the time to listen. She didn’t rush Maggie or rely only on previous diagnoses. Instead, she validated Maggie’s concerns, looked at the patient as a whole, and created a plan to uncover the real issue.
Finally, Someone Listened
“Jen agreed that it wasn’t normal. I felt so heard. We started putting a plan together to find answers.”
Further imaging revealed abnormalities in Maggie’s uterus and ovaries. Jen referred her to an OB-GYN, who performed a biopsy. The results were shocking—Maggie had both pre-cancer and cancer in her endometrium. After years of searching, she finally had an answer, thanks to a provider who truly listened.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
“After fighting for years, I finally had an answer because of Jen and my Exemplar Care membership,” Maggie said. “The OB-GYN referred me to an oncologist in Iowa City. They scheduled a total hysterectomy, which I had two weeks ago. Now, I’m waiting on pathology results to see the next steps.”
A Second Discovery
Maggie’s story didn’t end there. The thorough and proactive care she received led to another critical discovery—one that could have been fatal.
“Through the testing, they found a large blood clot, likely caused by the cancer. If Jen hadn’t sent me to get checked, who knows if I’d even be here?”
The Power of Direct Primary Care
Maggie’s experience shows what Direct Primary Care at Exemplar Care makes possible. In traditional healthcare, time constraints and insurance rules often dictate care. Patients like Maggie can go years without answers. But at Exemplar Care, our providers have the time to listen, dig deeper, and advocate for their patients.
Gratitude and Recovery
Today, Maggie focuses on recovery with her husband and their daughter. As she waits for the next steps, she remains deeply grateful for the care that changed her life.
“I cannot say enough good things about Jen. Without her taking the time to truly listen, I’d still be fighting with providers.”
A Message for World Cancer Awareness Day
On this World Cancer Awareness Day, we share Maggie’s story as a reminder of the power of compassionate, patient-centered care. It is also a testament to proactive care and early detection. No one should have to fight for years to be heard. At Exemplar Care, we listen, we care, and we go the extra mile—because every patient deserves it.