Greetings!
This email serves as a clinical pathways program update from the Oncology Physician Resource (OPR). This issue features:
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Clincal Pathways Overview |
 Oncology Physician Resource (OPR) spent much of 2009 developing a Michigan oncology clinical treatment pathways program to be sponsored by BCBSM as a professional Collaborative Quality Initiative (CQI) through BCBSM's Physician Group Incentive Program (PGIP).
Intent:
The intent of the program is to establish treatment pathways, decrease variability of care delivery and improve quality - without compromising the patient experience or the integrity of the physician practice. The guidelines contained within the pathways define optimal quality care and treatment with the least toxicity and may also be more cost effective for the patient, provider, and payer.
Objective:
The primary objective of the Pathways Program is to demonstrate that treatment pathways can be universally incorporated into clinical oncology practices.
Pathway Development:
OPR recruited a panel of local community and academic oncology leaders to develop the treatment pathways for the program. The pathways were validated against the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines. Choice of treatment was selected based on efficacy. If efficacy between therapeutic alternatives was equal then toxicity drove choice. Only when efficacy and toxicity were similar among regimens did economics influence the decision.
Launch:
The Pathways Program was officially introduced to the attendees at the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology Meeting on September 26th, 2009.
Eligibility:
Physicians must participate in the BCBSM Physician Group Incentive Program (PGIP).
Completion of all necessary paperwork and agreements relating to participation, confidentiality, compliance, and software installation.
Attendance at two Pathways Program meetings or sessions annually.
Installation of eobONE, a web-based reimbursement manager service used to monitor compliance.
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Pathway Program Specifics |
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First Phase Diagnoses:
Breast Cancer
Colon Cancer
Lung Cancer
Supportive Care:
Anemia
Neutropenia
Nausea/Vomiting
Possible Additional Disease States for Next Phase:
Prostate Cancer
Multiple Myeloma
CLL
Follicular Lymphoma
Ovarian
Mantle Cell
Large B Cell Lymphoma
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Questions & Answers |
Question:
Is the anemia pathway for all patients on chemotherapy?
Answer:
No. The anemia pathway and the supportive care pathways are for those patients who with breast, colon, or lung diagnoses who are being treated with chemotherapy. Question:
What do I use the document titled "Chemotherapy Regimens with Intermediate to High Risk for Febrile Neutropenia" for?
Answer:
The document is for general reference use. For the purpose of the Clinical Pathways Program, we are only concerned with the breast, colon, and lung cancer diagnoses. You don't need to apply it to anything other than those three diagnoses.
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OPR STAFF |
Philip Stella, M.D.
President & CEO
Kurt Neumann, M.D.
Vice President
Lesli Lord
Executive Director
Jane Tozer
Manager of Business Operations & Clinical Pathways
Nikki Kaminski
Membership Services |
