US Oncology Network conference highlighted transition to changing care models

Members of The US Oncology Network met at the annual spring conference on March 30 to April 1 in San Diego.

The focus of this year's conference was the changing landscape in health care as payers transition to value-based care.

“This is a critical time for the cancer community as health care evolves to new value-oriented care delivery systems,” US Oncology Network President Kirk Kaminsky said. “The result will be a whole new world for oncology practices, affecting their entire operation from top to bottom. Our annual conference provided our members a wealth of information on leadership skills, best practices, resources and advanced technologies developed by The Network to enable them to implement necessary changes at the desired pace and depth for each individual organization.”

At the conference, The Network provided programs, resources and strategies to assist oncology practices and cancer professionals in implementing alternative payment models and the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oncology Care Model (OCM). The Network presented its program, which was designed to incorporate the OCM model into the oncology practice's normal workflow.

“Transitioning to new care models will require much more than innovative technologies, streamlined processes and advanced analytics,” The Network's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Seiden said. “Our goal is to not only provide these valuable resources, but to also help our members develop the leadership skills necessary to manage the tremendous change practices must undergo to achieve success in this new unknown territory.”