To many people, the question above may seem simple. But, there are many different answers, depending on the speaker’s perspective, and these are often contradictory. Some people say that physicians are best suited for interpreting and managing the care of patients with cancer. Others say that physicians do not have time to stay on top of new evidence and drug information, so oversight by external agencies and specialty pharmacies is necessary to ensure that appropriate decisions are made across the country.
The majority of cancer care is well known to be delivered in the community setting. We also are starting to learn that there may be cost differences based on site of service. What does that really mean to a patient with cancer, a physician, a practice administrator, and a payer or employer? The real answer is…it depends.
The scope of oncology practice management is undergoing seismic changes. Groups that formerly focused on the survival of their patients, now have to wonder about their own operational survival, but under what evolving model? Administrators are being asked to oversee the operation of the practice, as well as scores of reporting measures and new contractual relationships, and perhaps even new institutional relationships.