How One Hospital Employee’s Cancer Diagnosis Inspired A Better Experience For Others

For over 25 years, Angela Baca, Director of Radiation Oncology at Carlsbad Medical Center, has dedicated her career to helping patients and families navigate cancer treatment and recovery. While her role has always centered on supporting others, a rare cancer diagnosis at age 48 gave her a new perspective on the patient experience. For the first time, she wasn’t the caregiver; she was the patient.

Having worked in oncology for more than two decades, Angela understood the road ahead and quickly assembled the team she needed to move forward, including trusted colleagues Lisa Hobbs, CMW, and Dr. Ronda Fleck, Radiation Oncology.

Due to the rare nature of the cancer, the only option for surgery was over four hours away in Albuquerque. Following the procedure, complications led to emergency surgery and additional days in the hospital. Angela found herself overwhelmed and eager to return home. It was one of her daughters who reminded her that she already knew how to handle situations like this.

“What would you do if a patient called you crying and saying they just wanted to go home and heal there?” her daughter asked.

The question shifted Angela’s perspective. She reached out to Teresa Gauntt, Director of Case Management at Carlsbad Medical Center. Together, they compiled a list of resources needed in order for Angela to continue her recovery from the comfort of her own home.

The experience gave Angela a deeper understanding of what patients face beyond their diagnosis. From hospital stays and recovery to uncertainty about what comes next, she experienced firsthand the vulnerability many patients encounter throughout their cancer journey.

“I now know what it feels like to be on the other side of the desk, in the exam chair, in the hospital bed,” Angela said.

Support from her colleagues played an important role in her recovery. While many coworkers checked in throughout her recovery, Angela said the collective support made the biggest impact.

“I might have been at home during the day, alone, but I never felt lonely,” she said. That perspective followed Angela back to work and continues to influence the way she approaches patient care today.

After returning to Carlsbad Medical Center, Angela put her experience into action. Inspired by her own recovery experience and the wound care team that helped her heal, she helped establish a Wound Care Department. Angela also has plans for expanding chemotherapy services at the hospital, helping bring treatment closer to home for patients throughout the region.

“We travel for appointments and treatments in rural healthcare,” she shared. “I am committed, even more than before, to helping people stay at home for treatment with their family, friends, and support system.”

Carlsbad Medical Center recently adopted a new mission statement with specific “Values in Action.” For Angela, her experience reinforced the importance of one particular Value in Action: “We Put Patients First,” not only through clinical care, but by understanding the realities patients face outside the walls of the hospital. Today, she regularly shares her story with patients and families, offering reassurance that they are not alone.

Having experienced both sides of the hospital experience, Angela remains committed to ensuring every patient feels seen, supported, and understood.

For more information on cancer treatment services at Carlsbad Medical Center, visit www.carlsbadmedicalcenter.com/cancer-care-services.