Partnerships for the delivery of cancer care

Academic oncologists representing prominent academic medical centers and medical directors representing a variety of HMOs have been meeting to confront the issues separating these two groups. Collaborations for Fostering Quality Cancer Care: Examining Partnerships Between Managed Care Organizations and Academic Medical Centers and Partnerships for the Delivery of Cancer Care were conferences jointly sponsored by the Lombardi Cancer Center of Georgetown University and the Xerox Corporation which looked at the obstacles to successful joint efforts and at successful existing partnerships between academic centers and HMOs. During these sessions it became apparent that there is real concern about the survival of the academic cancer centers and for their research, education and patient care missions. But successful partnerships between academic medical centers and HMOs do exist. These offer a model of working relationships that can incorporate both the traditional missions of the academic medical centers and the need for cost-effectiveness which HMOs champion.