Julie Chase
(202) 997-8677
Anita Weissman
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Chase Communications /
COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF ITS ONCOLOGY MEDICAL HOME WEBSITE
Practices to Begin Using Site to Measure Patient Satisfaction and Outcome Leading to Improvements in the Quality of Cancer Care
WASHINGTON, DC – December January 9X, 20132 –The Community Oncology Alliance (COA)announced today that it has launched its Oncology Medical Home (OMH) website today at The site, a byproduct of the multi-stakeholder effort of the Oncology Medical Home Steering and Implementation committees, is intended to assist cancer care providers in their journey to becoming an Oncology Medical Home. The purpose theme[O1] of this model is to define, measure, benchmark and reward quality, value and positive outcomes in cancer care.
The web site is multi-faceted for cancer care patients, providers and payers. Patients can learn about this the transition to an the oncology medical home and will also have access to comprehensive information regarding their disease. Payers will gain insight into measurable quality and value and can also, upon approval, invite themselves to view benchmarked quality, value and outcomes data. Providers are given access to an wideextensive menu of tools and technologies that can used to improve their efficiency and effectiveness while also creating measureable quality and value data. Practices will also have the option to approve or decline individual payer requests to view benchmarked data.
This initial release launch of the OMH website contains hard copy and electronic tools to help in gathering and reporting feedback on the patient experience. This is the first of many planned benchmarked aspects of cancer care. Based on CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) research and format, all cancer care providers will be able to gather patient satisfaction data through a web based portal or hardcopy surveys. Cancer care providers that participate in this FREE service will then be able to benchmark their patient feedback against providers of similar demographics and in the following categories:
Timeliness
Thoroughness
Communications
Friendliness
To date, and after one week after of the launch date, there are over 200 providers registered to use the site and over 5,000 patient satisfaction surveys are being benchmarked.
“Some of the components of an oncology medical home are enhanced patient communications, greater coordination between providers of care, and increased responsiveness to patient needs. It is important to obtain and measure the patient’s perspective of these components of care. This standardized patient satisfaction survey for cancer care is the first of many benchmarks for the oncology medical home,” said Dr. Bruce Gould, steering committee chair, medical director of Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, and COA board member.
About Community Oncology Alliance (COA)
Formed in 2003 by community oncologists, COA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of community oncology. COA supports community oncology and helps oncology practices to become more politically active withactive with increased awareness on Capitol Hill about the community cancer care delivery system. Additionally, COA has brought together community oncology practices from across the country to share information in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the cancer care they provide to their patients. COA also has a multi-stakeholder group involved with the implementation of the Oncology Medical Home, a cancer care model that fosters quality and value in cancer care. More information can be found at
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[O1]Would objective, intent, purpose be better?