Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/417381
Eliminating Variability In Care By implementing Elekta solutions, McLaren will be able to tackle the trou- bling problem of variability in cancer care. While the cost of oncology care is soaring, approaching $180 billion a year, an alarming 35 percent of treat- ment plans deviate from evidence-based guidelines. "We are not only wasting precious resources, we are falling short of our duty to provide the best care to every patient," says Dr. Gerold Bepler, President and CEO of the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Part of the challenge for clinicians is keeping up with an accelerating pace of change in medicine. "There is no disease outside of cancer where the development of new therapies is so rapid. Healthcare information technol- ogy, such as coordinated care plans and clinical decision support tools, must be utilized to assure that we are providing the best and most precise therapy possi- ble. That's our challenge. We believe that our partnership with Elekta and the implementation of MOSAIQ across our network is a first and essential building block that can help us meet this chal- lenge," added Bepler. Building In Operational, Clinical And Financial Improvements Klamerus and his team are progressing well toward their goals. Their top prior- ities include: Standardize care guidelines and proto- cols based on the latest evidence. "We are working with Elekta to incorporate clinical decision support tools that will guide expert decision making at the point of care as well as ensure equitable care for patients in our network," says Klamerus. "As new guidelines are published, clinical deci- sion support software will enable us to quickly and consistently apply adjust- ments in our care pathways." Monitor quality and variability with real-time data analytics. To provide the best care for patients, cancer providers need to be able to measure their own performance against standards and targets and use this data to drive improvements. "In the past, we have utilized registry tools that can be up to six months behind, to monitor quality. With the quality dashboards Elekta is creating with our input, increasingly we will be able to monitor our adherence to guidelines in real time. More timely data will reduce variability and for some patients this might mean catching important treatment oversights and delays in care," explains Klamerus. Automate clinical trials selection and management. One of the areas Dr. Bepler is most excited about having is a software tool that will help screen patients for clinical trial eligibility. He envisions an auto- mated process with decision support tools that match patient profiles to the best therapies, including trials. Integrate multidisciplinary care. "Our network forms a unique commu- nity/academic partnership. We need an information system that will help us link sub-specialists with our commu- nity oncologists throughout the state." Bepler added that a single electronic health record is essential to the type of collaboration that the network envisions for their patients. MOSAIQ will be used with other tools to link electronic tumor boards and chart rounds through- out the system. These multidisciplinary conferences allow professionals from many specialties to discuss cases and share resources and ensure the best outcomes for patients. Improve the management of patient populations. "Standardizing the way care is provided enables data associated with that care to be organized and measured effectively over a period of time. This is where it really becomes interesting", says Elekta VP Powell. "It will become increasing- ly possible for a cancer network like McLaren to measure the effectiveness and outcomes from cancer treatments to implement best practices and care improvement interventions for targeted patient populations." First-In-Class Care Management The strategic partnership between McLaren Health Care and Elekta is very well timed, says Klamerus. "We're developing what we believe will be a first-in-class information management system that crosses the full spectrum of the patient experience from prevention and early detection, to integrated treat- ment, all the way to survivorship and/or end of life. We believe that the implementation of one common information system is foundational to achieving our goals as a cancer system and we are excited that Elekta is joining us as partners on this journey." con- cludes Klamerus. www.elekta.com Elekta pioneers significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow en- hancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Learn more at elekta.com.