Dr. Philip Baney has been practicing family medicine for a total of 26 years, first establishing a practice in Laureldale, and then for the past 13 years in Hamburg. My reasons for selecting to highlight Dr. Baney for a Berks Weekly News story are rooted in my personal experience as an observer and caretaker for my elderly aunt and uncle over the years they were under his care. I was interested in learning how he was inspired to become a physician, and what influenced his personal philosophy on caring for his patients.
“During high school, one of my friends and I were very interested in science, and we both took a class in stenography and shorthand. One project was to put together a resume to apply for a job. The teacher told us that the two of us would never be serious enough to become physicians. This only helped to make both of us more determined to pursue a career in medicine, just to show that she was wrong. My friend also had a successful pediatric practice in Montgomery County.”
A serious desire to help others through medicine was inspired in a young Phillip as his grandfather, with whom he had a very close relationship, fell ill with lung cancer. “I slept at the end of my grandfather’s bed, and I would see how the doctor and nurses who came to visit and care for him helped my parents. That experience is what made me want to pursue a career in medicine.”
Philip grew up in Upper Bucks County and attended Lansdale Catholic High School in Montgomery County which was the closest Catholic school. “I was a product of a Catholic family; three of my aunts were nuns, and my mom volunteered to drive the school bus. I was an undergrad at Moravian College, where I received a BS in biology. I then took a detour and completed the MD PhD route in microbiology at Penn State. After two years working on the bench, I realized it wasn’t for me. I went on to Temple Medical School In Philadelphia, and did my residency at Montgomery Hospital in Norristown, Pa.”
As a family physician, Dr. Baney has a philosophy regarding his patients which likely brings down the angst that many patients have toward a visit with the doctor. “I tell my patients, ‘I am your physician, and I am not your father. I give you information and make certain that you understand it, and if you don’t want to I will say that I think you should.’ I believe in educating my patients and respecting their boundaries. I take pride in the number of patients dismissed from the practice which is very low. It is hard to get dismissed from my practice. I like to give options to my patients.”
As noted earlier, I’ve personally observed Dr. Baney’s care through my elderly aunt and uncle who came into Dr. Baney’s practice when their physician retired from his practice in Laureldale. I recalled hearing all about their new doctor, and how much they liked him. When Dr. Baney moved from Laureldale to Hamburg, they traveled together to his office from their home in Mt. Penn. I recall a touching story they told me. Their appointment fell on their wedding anniversary, and during their visit, they told Dr. Baney of their plans to celebrate the occasion with a meal at one of their favorite places to eat, the Leesport Diner.
Following the appointment, they went for their much-anticipated anniversary dinner, where they were informed that their doctor had called ahead of their arrival, and the dinner was on him. This gesture of kindness meant so much to both of them! In later years, as they grew older, Dr. Baney spared them the trip to Hamburg by scheduling at-home visits, particularly during the winter months. When asked why he goes out of the box for some of his patients, he explained, “Maybe there is a little eight-year-old to see his grandfather who was his best friend and seeing how it made things so much easier on his grandfather and his parents when the doctor came to the home to see him. There was a loyalty from my patients who lived far away, yet they came all the way up here to Hamburg. I felt that it was the right thing to do. I always got a lot out of making these visits, and in the case of your aunt and uncle, the Andes mint candies they had waiting for me.” Both my aunt and uncle have since passed, but the Dr. Baney’s kindness will always be remembered.
Although, through the lens of this writer, it may seem that Dr. Baney practices off the beaten path in some respects, in reality he is working in the increasingly challenging business of a medical practice. “I was always keenly aware that there has to be a business component of running a practice. I am aware of the challenges of running a business while balancing patient satisfaction. I am very busy and productive; my kids are through college, and I can really focus on administration more. Many times an imbalance can keep doctors from being able to connect with their patients. We need to keep patients in the forefront.”
As a seasoned physician, Dr. Baney touches on the most rewarding aspect of being a family physician. “Relationships; I get to participate in my patient’s lives in a very emotional and private way. They share things with me that they would not share with anyone else. I have the opportunity to learn in many different ways and look at the world in different ways.”
When out of the office, Dr. Baney enjoys his time relaxing and unwinding with his wife, Karen, who is a gym teacher at Sacred Heart School in West Reading. They have three grown children; two daughters and a son. They farm several food plots together, and he loves hunting and being out in nature. The couple has travelled around the world together, most recently to Dublin, Ireland.
