Top 5 Most-Read Oncology Articles of 2023

Our most-read oncology content of 2023 included meeting coverage, research on an algorithm using patient-reported outcomes to predict hospital visits, and the launch of an National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) pilot project aiming to measure health equity.

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5. Oncology Stakeholders Must Align in the Pursuit of Health Equity, Value-Based Care

From diagnosis to treatment, a new era in cancer care has expanded the armamentarium and improved outcomes for patients. Still, structural barriers and issues surrounding the growing cost of care cause disparities in health outcomes to persist. This was the basis of discussion at a session of the Institute for Value-Based Medicine^® co-chaired by David Eagle, MD, chair of legislative affairs and patient advocacy, New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS); and Jeff Vacirca, MD, FACP, chief executive officer and chairman, NYCBS. Speakers at the event covered initiatives for advancing value-based cancer care in the community setting, as well as health equity and the shift from the Oncology Care Model to the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM).

Read the full article here.

4. Cancer Symptom Algorithm Identifies Patients at Greater Risk of ED Visits, Hospital Admissions

A symptom complexity algorithm that uses patient-reported outcomes was capable of predicting the likelihood of unplanned emergency department visits and hospital admissions among patients with cancer in study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The findings suggest patient-reported outcome data can be valuable in cancer care and that novel algorithms can help utilize the data in the clinical setting.

Read the full article here.

3. NCCN Launches Pilot Project Aiming to Measure, Implement Health Equity in Cancer Care Practices

NCCN launched its Health Equity Report Card (HERC). The HERC, developed in 2021, includes 17 actionable practice changes aiming to help providers and health care organizations address bias in care delivery and discriminatory behaviors. The changes could also help address social determinants of health and systemic barriers to care. In the first phase of a multiphase pilot, 5 leading academic cancer centers are assessing the feasibility the HERC in practice.

Read the full article here.

2. Characteristics of Self-Triaged Emergency Department Visits by Adults With Cancer

A study published in the print edition of The American Journal of Managed Care^® found that adults with cancer infrequently use available clinician advice before visiting the emergency department and may use factors other than clinical severity to determine their need for emergency care. These findings suggest potential targets to help patients manage acute care needs during cancer treatment. Strategies to manage patients in this way are especially important for providers participating in the EOM.

Read the full article here.

1. Building More Diverse Clinical Trials in Oncology: Strategies for Providers, Payers, and Community Stakeholders

A panel of experts gave insight into what must be done to close gaps in cancer care equity during a session on the second day of the Patient-Centered Oncology Care^® 2022 conference. The lack of diversity in clinical trials remains a critical issue perpetuating inequities in oncology for underserved patients and racial and ethnic minority populations.

Read the full article here.