More Medicine, Fewer Clicks: How Informatics Can Actually Help Your Practice

Area of Science:

• Oncology informatics
• Health data science
• Clinical informatics

Background:

• Information systems are crucial for effective and efficient healthcare delivery.
• Electronic health records (EHRs) and other data systems are increasingly integrated into patient care.
• The growing volume of data in oncology presents challenges for practicing oncologists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the application of data systems in improving cancer care delivery.
• To illustrate the use of real-world evidence for clinical trial accrual.
• To explore the transformative potential of big data and predictive analytics in oncology.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing real-world evidence for automatic identification of eligible patients for clinical trials.
• Implementing information systems at the point of care to empower clinicians.
• Leveraging telehealth platforms to overcome gaps in expertise, geography, and technical capability.
• Employing informatics methods to manage complex oncology data, including treatment regimens, side effects, and genomics.

Main Results:

• US Oncology is using real-world evidence to facilitate clinical trial accrual.
• Information systems empower clinicians to improve patient care in real-time.
• Telehealth and virtual collaboration (e.g., virtual tumor boards) enhance care coordination for disparate communities.
• Informatics offers solutions for managing vast amounts of oncology-related data.

Conclusions:

• Data systems, including EHRs, are vital for enhancing oncology care delivery and efficiency.
• Big data, predictive analytics, and informatics are poised to revolutionize oncology practice.
• Addressing challenges in clinical documentation and engaging patients as data donors are key future directions.