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NCCN, US Oncology Network and McKesson partner for enhanced oncology pathwaysDec 17, 2012 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN, The US Oncology Network, and McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation, have collaborated to develop enhanced oncology pathways delivered through technology, which will strengthen standards in evidence-based cancer care and enable new forms of transparent provider and payer relationships. Value Pathways powered by NCCN are the next step in a collaboration to deliver clinical quality and regimen support system, building upon a solution initially developed by Proventys, Inc. as CDS Oncology. This workflow-integrated software will allow physicians to assess treatment options consistent with evidence-based standards at the point of care. Value Pathways powered by NCCN, delivered through the clinical quality and regimen support system, is an important step forward in ensuring patients receive the highest quality treatment, while offering options to address the costs of cancer care, McKesson said. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) will serve as the foundational evidence source within the clinical quality and regimen support system and be supplemented by the collaboratively-developed Value Pathways. Anchored in clinical quality and evidence-based medicine, Value Pathways powered by NCCN will build upon The US Oncology Network's Level I Pathways and help patients receive high-quality care with the best opportunity for positive outcomes, while also recognizing the importance of value in determining appropriate treatment options. These pathways will provide payers and employers with quality-based pathways, developed by trusted oncologist-led sources through a transparent process, suitable to drive value-based reimbursement programs, the company added. Physicians of The US Oncology Network, supported by McKesson Specialty Health, will work with Guideline Panel oncologists from NCCN Member Institutions to develop the Pathways, which will initially cover 19 tumor types and be expanded to match the breadth of NCCN Guidelines. According to McKesson, Value Pathways powered by NCCN will reflect the collaborative effort of nearly 2,000 physicians and oncology researchers affiliated with NCCN Guidelines Panels and The US Oncology Network. Ongoing development of Value Pathways will be 100% concordant with NCCN Guidelines and leverage the pathways development process pioneered by The US Oncology Network's Level I Pathways and Pathways Task Force. "NCCN Guidelines are recognized as the gold standard across the industry. Our collaboration builds upon that by pairing them with new Value Pathways powered by NCCN to create a single set of content that we believe will enhance national best practices for optimal patient care and value-based outcomes in a completely transparent process," said Roy Beveridge, chief medical officer for McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network. "The physician-led approach to developing meaningful clinical content - including rigorous peer review and updates based on the best science available - is a natural match between our organizations and our complementary expertise will enable us as an industry to measure, track and drive quality cancer care using the best, most up-to-date medicine." Developed by physicians for physicians, Value Pathways powered by NCCN will be available in the spring of 2013 as part of the clinical quality and regimen support system. This software will allow physicians to review treatment options and their relevant clinical attributes against both Value Pathways and NCCN Guidelines at the point of care, and integrated within their workflow. The clinical quality and regimen support system will allow physicians to access evidence-based content at the point of care and will be compatible with multiple Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, increasing efficiency within the practice, as well as quality and cost effectiveness, the company concluded. http://www.datamonitor.com Republication or redistribution, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent. Datamonitor shall not be liable for errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon |