May 2012

Use of bioimpedance spectroscopy to aid in post“breast cancer assessments for lymphedema can be cost saving for healthcare organizations in the United States.

This study examines staff perceptions of patient care quality and the processes before and after implementation of a comprehensive clinical information system in 7 critical access hospitals.

A statewide collaboration between payers and providers to create a cancer clinical care pathways program is successful.

Active expert peer-to-peer consultation with prescribing oncologists can promote adherence to guidelines and lead to cost reductions without risk of neutropenic fever, with or without hospitalization, for patients with cancer.

As calls for improving the quality and cost efficiency of oncology increase, future empirical work is needed to examine the responsiveness of oncologists' treatment decision making to incentives among patients of all ages and insurance types.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer has potential cost savings and may improve access to radiation, increase convenience, and boost quality of life.

This cost-utility analysis reports on the effect of quality of life on the value of screening all new patients with colorectal cancer for Lynch Syndrome.

Payment reform may be used to better align appropriate financial incentives with better quality of care.

Use of administrative claims data is an innovative way of measuring the effect of continuing medical education on physician practice behavior and patient outcomes.

Value-based insurance design copayment reductions sustained medication adherence 2 years into policy implementation and were most effective in patients with poor adherence before policy implementation.

The development of subspecialty tumor groups for uncommon malignancies represents an effective approach to building experience, increasing patient volumes and referrals, and fostering development of increased therapeutic options and clinical trials for patients afflicted with otherwise historically neglected cancers.