News Details
NCCN and McKesson Specialty Health Collaborate to Provide Oncology Quality Support System
Collaboration aims to enhance efficiency and quality of cancer care
The Woodlands, Texas (September 21, 2012) – The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) and McKesson Specialty Health are collaborating to introduce an enhanced oncology solution to community oncologists. Through this collaboration, the organizations will build upon a solution initially developed by Proventys, Inc. as CDS Oncology. Delivered through existing practice technologies, the enhanced solution will provide an oncology quality support system to oncologists by allowing them to access the most recent evidence available in the delivery of high-quality cancer care.
NCCN resources are the recognized standard in oncology clinical guidelines and compendia, and we are honored to work with them, said Roy Beveridge, MD, chief medical officer for McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network. By joining forces, we can draw from the expertise of both organizations to help oncologists practice high-quality, evidence-based medicine.
In today`s complex healthcare environment, clinicians are facing increasing pressure to provide high-quality, cost-effective care consistent with evidence-based standards of medical practice. The oncology quality support system was developed to meet this need and is uniquely powered by providing access to the recognized leader in the standards for oncology care, the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®).
The goal of the oncology quality support system and its reporting tools is to enhance best practices nationally for optimal patient care. The system will give oncologists the ability to access evidence-based recommendations efficiently within their practice workflow and smoothly integrate across different electronic health records (EHRs). Over time, the growing system will also provide seamless and simultaneous prior authorization to speed up workflow and provide relevant financial information, such as patient out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, it will provide a tool to measure quality and adherence to best practices to support value-based reimbursement that major employers request from NCCN.
The oncology quality support system will be comprehensive and cover all major cancer diagnoses, said Patricia J. Goldsmith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for NCCN. It will have a focus beyond chemotherapy, including radiation and molecular tests, truly encompassing the entire cancer care continuum. We are proud to have the NCCN Guidelines power the oncology quality support system and to work with McKesson Specialty Health to do so.
Phase I of the system will be available under a permanent brand name to oncologists in the coming months. Further, the organizations are working to develop additional applications and tools to measure quality and deliver value and quality-based care as market needs evolve.
About McKesson Specialty Health
McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation, empowers community patient care delivery systems by proving solutions to aid in the advancement of science, technology and quality of care. Through innovative clinical, research, business and operational solutions, facilitated by integrated technology systems, our products aim to improve the financial health of our customers so they may provide the best care for their patients. For more information, visit www.mckessonspecialtyhealth.com.