Oncology

Research documentation is a critical aspect of running a clinical trial. Key patient information such as informed consent, adverse events (AEs), concomitant medications, and medical and surgical histories are collected and used to determine patient safety and efficacy as the trial proceeds. Ultimately, the sponsor may make decisions—ranging from modifying the dose of the investigational drug to closing the study due to AEs—based on the data collected.

To begin a session on the reimbursement of genetic testing during the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Kissimmee, Florida, incoming president Luis E. Raez, MD, put things in perspective: “I’ve been practicing for more than 30 years, and it used to be that when you would explain a treatment plan to a patient, they would ask if they’re going to respond to it and you would have to say ‘I don’t know.’ Now, with genetic testing, hopefully you can say ‘yes.’”

Making lifesaving but costly cancer therapies available to patients requires collaboration across the healthcare system, agreed a panel of stakeholders at the Business of Oncology Summit hosted by the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology.

Thomas Marsland, MD, talks about financial toxicity and the effect it has on patients.

In a panel discussion during the Business of Oncology Summit hosted by the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology, survivors and caregivers described how their cancer journeys were affected by financial toxicity.

"By being a part of this membership, you get access to education, information, resources, [and] materials that are hopefully going to be helpful in the care of cancer patients," said Rick McDonough, MD, president of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO).

In a disucssion about closing the rural cancer care gap, 3 themes emerged: local efforts, clinical trial access, and telehealth.

Community oncology practices need to come together as much as possible in order to respond to changes in the market, have a common voice, and to share best practices and learn from each other, said Barry Russo, chief executive officer of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

The care team is made up of a number of members, who work together to uncover and then address any barriers that patients have, said Jessa Dunivan, patient services manager, Northwest Medical Specialties.

As clinicians learn how to manage patients most efficiently under a value-based care of delivery, they need to identify patients and risk-stratify those patients, said Ray Page, DO, PhD, president and director of research at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Targeted interventions by patient characteristics to improve fecal immunochemical test completion could reduce disparities in colorectal cancer screening and improve overall compliance with screening recommendations.

Alexandra Quinn, chief executive officer, Health Leads, discusses the growing role of community health workers in cancer care and why it's important to make the work they do more sustainable.

Oncology needs to learn to use technology not just for keeping medical records, but also for caring for patients, explained Erich Mounce, chief operating officer, OneOncology.

Genetic alternations in colorectal cancer (CRC) are linked to different survival and treatment outcomes, according to a study that used next-generation sequencing (NGS) of tumor DNA. The study was published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Early intervention to identify social needs means issues get caught sooner and patients can avoid or minimize financial toxicity, said Abra Kelson, MSW, LSWA-IC, medical social work supervisor, Northwest Medical Specialties.

The first day of the 2019 Community Oncology Conference, the major annual meeting of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), featured an update on its effort to find alternatives to CMS' Oncology Care Model.

There's still a big disparity in reimbursement between hospitals and community-based practices, but is looking into ways to address this, explained Ben Jones, vice president, Government Relations & Public Policy, McKesson Specialty Health.

The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation today opened a new patient assistance program for people living with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, a rare type of blood cancer that originates in the lymphatic system and is characterized by an excess of abnormal white blood cells and proteins called immunoglobulins.

Today we’re speaking with Dr Elizabeth Mynatt, the executive director of the Institute for People and Technology and a professor in the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr Mynatt and her team developed an app called MyPath that uses artificial intelligence to help guide a patient’s cancer journey.

As novel therapies drive up the cost of drugs, it is becoming increasingly difficult for community oncologists to keep costs below value-based care program targets, according to a new survey from Integra Connect.

The revolution in cancer care isn’t just about the wave of life-saving therapies, or the role of genetics in pinpointing exactly who should get which drug and when. As Ray D. Page, DO, PhD, FACOI, tells it, change also means getting back to the basics, so that the relationship between doctor and patient drives care—not insurance companies or Medicare or rules from the FDA.

Tom Gallo, the former president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), and Ali McBride, PharmD, the current president of ACCC, discuss how their members feel about the state of cancer delivery, recent trends, addressing burnout, and sustainability of cancer care delivery.

A lack of diversity in cell lines used for laboratory studies means underrepresented populations and minorities might not benefit from precision medicines as quickly as people from European ancestry.

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, was named 2019-2020 president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) during its 45th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit on March 22, 2019, in Washington, DC. McBride is the clinical coordinator of hematology/oncology at The University of Arizona Cancer Center.

Everyone at the practice is vital to the success of value-based care, which is really patient-centered care, said Jessa Dunivan, patient services manager, Northwest Medical Specialties.