In the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) 2019 Trending Now in Cancer Care Survey, 88% of cancer program respondents ranked improving care coordination among the top five opportunities for cost savings (n=125). Three-quarters of respondents reported that “workflow inefficiencies” topped the list of typical workday issues (n=120). Nearly half (47%) identified “siloed communication between departments” as a leading concern in workforce planning (n=118).
Two approaches for addressing these issues are quality improvement (QI) and process improvement (PI) initiatives. Further, QI and PI activities are often a requirement of accreditation and/or of value-based reimbursement programs.
Even as cancer programs and practices are continuing to meet myriad COVID-19-related challenges, the need to streamline coordination of care to improve the patient experience and demonstrate cost-effective, quality care delivery remains. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized patient populations further increases the urgency to do better.
ACCC is committed to assisting cancer care providers with gap analyses, practical models and resources to structure and execute QI projects, and PI initiatives designed to advance patient-centered care. Below are some recent CCC education programs and resources with a specific focus on reducing disparities related to care access and outcomes.
In June 2020, ACCC launched its model for improving the care coordination of lung cancer patients covered by Medicaid.1 The model is a framework that cancer programs can use to evaluate lung cancer care delivery across 12 assessment areas. By completing the assessment, providers can identify program strengths and gaps in care coordination that are ripe for QI interventions. Designed for cancer programs of all sizes and resource levels, the model’s assessment areas are linked to quality metrics from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Commission on Cancer, and others. Guided by an expert multidisciplinary advisory committee, the model was developed and tested through a 3-year iterative process. Cancer programs can complete the assessment online at no cost. Programs that complete the evaluation receive a customized report.2
Six cancer centers are currently participating in an ACCC PI initiative focused on improving quality care delivery and outcomes in patients with unresectable stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).3 Through site-specific projects, participating programs aim to assess and improve process pathways for integrated, interdisciplinary communication and care coordination.
Two ongoing ACCC education projects focus specifically on achieving a better understanding of disparities in access to biomarker testing and effective practices to improve equitable access to precision oncology advances. They are the Eliminating Precision Medicine Disparities4 and Operational Pathways for Molecular Testing in NSCLC projects.5 Programs interested in QI activities centered on patient engagement and the patient experience can benefit from resources and a six-part webinar series that covers approaches for engaging patients and their caregivers in shared decision-making (SDM).6 Multidisciplinary webinar faculty share practical tips and guidance on integrating SDM into clinical practice and strategies for increasing patient involvement in clinical decisions.
Visit the ACCC website for the latest resources and education opportunities.
References
1. Association of Community Cancer Centers. Improving care coordination, overview. Accessed August 26, 2020. https://www.accc-cancer.org/projects/improving-care-coordination/overview
2. Association of Community Cancer Centers. 6 steps to improve care coordination. Accessed August 26, 2020. https://www.accc-cancer.org/projects/improving-care-coordination/6-steps-to-improve-care-coordination
3. Association of Community Cancer Centers. NSCLC care delivery, overview. Accessed August 26, 2020. https://www.accc-cancer.org/projects/nsclc-care-delivery/overview
4. Association of Community Cancer Centers. Eliminating disparities, overview. Accessed August 26, 2020. https://www.accc-cancer.org/projects/eliminating-disparities/overview
5. Association of Community Cancer Centers. Operational pathways for molecular testing in NSCLC, overview. Accessed August 26, 2020. https://www.accc-cancer.org/projects/operational-pathways-for-molecular-testing-in-nsclc/overview
6. Association of Community Cancer Centers. Shared decision-making, webinars. Accessed August 26, 2020. https://www.accc-cancer.org/projects/shared-decision-making/webinars
