Lessons From Early Implementation of a Patient-Centered Care Model in Oncology

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Oncology practices function as primary health providers for cancer patients.
• New standards define expectations for patient-centered oncology practices.
• Pilot study evaluates implementation of these standards in five oncology practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the implementation experiences of oncology practices adopting new patient-centered care standards.
• To identify facilitators and barriers in transforming oncology practices.

Main Methods:

• Auditors reviewed workflows and documentation against oncology medical home standards.
• Clinical encounters, practice workflows, and interviews with staff and patients were observed.
• Implementation experiences were evaluated across five pilot oncology practices.

Main Results:

• Referral coordination and care management were the most consistently demonstrated functions.
• Tracking tests/medications and quality measurement/improvement were least demonstrated.
• Areas for improvement include health IT, care coordination, quality improvement, and patient education.

Conclusions:

• Pilot practices shared common structures but lacked standardization in process implementation.
• Prioritizing care coordination, quality improvement, and measurement is crucial for patient-centered transformation.
• Transformation facilitators included prioritizing patient-centered care and motivation for change.