Building the Oncology Program of the Future

J Clin Pathways. 2022;8(8):17.

As cancer treatments become more targeted and technological advancements continue at a rapid pace, oncology programs and practices are challenged to keep up. For oncologists and advanced practice providers, this influx of technology means a steady increase in clinical information that must be integrated at the point of care. Cancer program administrators and other leaders are experiencing a similar increase in operational- and business-intelligence data and information. This potential information overload is creating what are known as “knowledge gaps,” which, in cancer care, can lead to over- or undertesting as well as inconsistent treatment decisions.

To better facilitate education and adoption of new advancements, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) created the Oncology Practice Transformation and Integration Center (OPTIC) program. OPTIC established a network of multidisciplinary professionals to support ongoing peer-to-peer learning and the successful implementation of new therapies and technologies. In addition, OPTIC is focused on addressing critical educational and training needs for cancer programs and practices, designed to support the successful adoption of innovations, emerging practices, or established guidelines in oncology within care teams and across disciplines.

One tool is ACCC’s newly created OPTIC webinar series, Building the Oncology Program of the Future. Over a series of three webinars, ACCC collaborates with oncology thought leaders to present information on strategic planning, data collection and analysis, and quality and process improvement. Presented through a health equity lens, each webinar aims to support cancer care providers to provide the highest quality care to patients.

The first webinar, held on September 21, featured a discussion between presenter Alieu Nyassi, MS, ELOC, Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and moderator Douglas Flora, MD, LSSBB, Executive Medical Director, Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. The discussion focused on the intersection of organizational strategic planning and health equity.

The second webinar, held on October 5, featured a presentation from Aaron Steiner, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Michiana Hematology Oncology, and focused on the importance of using data and practice metrics to get the most from your payers, free up providers for direct patient care, and improve the operational and fiscal strength of the cancer service line.

The last webinar in the series was held on November 8, and examined the unintended consequences of quality improvement initiatives, including creating or perpetuating disparities, and how to promote equitable access to biomarker testing. Michaela Dinan, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases); Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control, Yale Cancer Center, led the discussion. For more information on the webinar series and the OPTIC program, scan the QR codes below.

Click here to listen to the webinar series. 

Click here to learn more about the OPTIC program.