Mending disconnects in cancer care: Setting an agenda for research, practice, and policy

Catherine M. Alfano, Deborah K. Mayer, Ellen Beckjord, David K. Ahern, Michele Galioto, Lisa K. Sheldon, Lisa M. Klesges, Eliah Aronoff-Spencer, Bradford W. Hesse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cancer in the United States accounts for $600 billion in health care costs, lost work time and productivity, reduced quality of life, and premature mortality. The future of oncology delivery must mend disconnects to equitably improve patient outcomes while constraining costs and burden on patients, caregivers, and care teams. Embedding learning health systems into oncology can connect care, engaging patients and providers in fully interoperable data systems that remotely monitor patients; generate predictive and prescriptive analytics to facilitate appropriate, timely referrals; and extend the reach of clinicians beyond clinic walls. Incorporating functional learning systems into the future of oncology and follow-up care requires coordinated national attention to 4 synergistic strategies: (1) galvanize and shape public discourse to develop and adopt these systems, (2) demonstrate their value, (3) test and evaluate their use, and (4) reform policy to incentivize and regulate their use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)539-546
Number of pages8
JournalJCO Clinical Cancer Informatics
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 16 2020

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