Patient-Centered Oncology Care

Program Location: 
Philadelphia, PA
Number of Practices: 
10
Payer Type: 
Grant
Partner Organizations: 
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Independence Blue Cross
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Oncology Management Services
RAND Corporation
Description: 

The National Committee for Quality Assurance has worked with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Oncology Management Services, Independence Blue Cross, and RAND, as well as a broader multi-stakeholder advisory group, to define the Patient-Centered Oncology Care model. The demonstration will take place in 10 oncology practices in southeastern Pennsylvania. Practices will receive implementation support during the 24-month demonstration period. They will be evaluated using patient surveys, quality measures, and measures of emergency department and hospital use. Results from these practices will be compared in two ways: (1) with their performance before they became oncology medical homes and (2) with other similar practices. Patients, clinicians, and health plan leaders will help design the project and disseminate results.

Increased Preventive Services: 

Patient Outcomes (Projected): People with cancer are seeking high-quality, coordinated, and supportive care. The Patient-Centered Oncology Model has the potential to address current gaps in cancer care. If this model can demonstrate better care, then patients will have important information about what kind of care is possible. Our multi-stakeholder team will be poised to support widespread dissemination through training, policy, and payment initiatives.

Other Outcomes: 

Patient experiences. For some domains, patients reported better experiences with cancer care at practices using the intervention. For other domains, patients reported better experiences at practices providing usual care.

  • Patients’ experiences with shared decision making were significantly better at intervention practices than at practices providing usual care (p=0.013).
  • Patients’ experiences with access to care (p<0.001) and exchanging information with providers (p=0.013) were significantly better at practices providing usual care than at intervention practices.
  • Patients’ experiences with effective communication and patient self-management were similar at intervention practices and practices providing usual care.
Last updated April 2019
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