Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Collaboration between local oncologists and academia is crucial to closing the cancer care gap

Todd Sachs, MD
Conditions
January 1, 2024
Share
Tweet
Share

There is undeniable hope and optimism when looking at the future of cancer care. Cancer survival rates are steadily rising as oncologists continue to learn more about the 100+ unique types of cancer—and emerging variants—that exist. Thanks to new targeted therapies and remarkable improvements in genomics, cancer care physicians and researchers are finding better ways to treat each cancer type and improve health outcomes.

Despite this knowledge, however, there are still significant challenges ahead:

  • There is a dramatic rise in cancer in people under 50.
  • The costs of cancer care continue to increase.
  • Barriers inhibit many patients from accessing care services.
  • Society faces a serious shortage of oncologists.

To overcome these challenges, we must continue to empower treating oncologists—who provide about 80 percent of cancer care in the U.S.—with resources that help address their growing caseloads while ensuring optimal care is delivered in the community setting.

Oncology subspecialists, in particular, have an opportunity to help community oncologists gain insight into the latest advancements and best practices in testing and treatments, especially if they’re treating different types of cancers every day. Here’s how.

A growing gap in cancer expertise

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) predicts that there will be a shortage of 2,393 oncologists by 2025.

To put this into perspective, there were 13,365 oncologists in the U.S. as of 2022, meaning there needs to be nearly 20 percent more oncologists to meet the anticipated demand for cancer care services.

Amplifying this challenge is the fact that nearly one in six Americans lives in a rural area—but 66 percent of rural counties have no oncologist. People in rural areas often have to travel far distances to receive care, which introduces new cost concerns and underscores the importance of receiving the right treatment for their unique circumstances.

While there are emerging treatments and targeted therapies that significantly improve treatment outcomes, many of these discoveries can take months to spread through journals and traditional sources to reach community clinical practices.

This paints an understandably difficult picture for community oncologists as they manage a growing volume of cases and may encounter different types of cancer with each patient. Without the right support, it can be incredibly difficult for oncologists to simultaneously keep up with the latest advancements in cancer care and see an average of 20 patients per day.

Greater collaboration can optimize cancer care outcomes

Oncology subspecialists at leading National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers will play a key role in helping community oncologists leverage the latest cancer knowledge.

At their core, NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers aim to advance laboratory and clinical research into new and effective treatments for cancer patients.

ADVERTISEMENT

This means that while oncologists can continue to focus largely on patient care, subspecialists can accelerate breakthroughs and disseminate this knowledge to community oncologists. It’s an efficient way to channel resources and more quickly evolve care approaches.

A few specific ways that subspecialists can help:

Provide expert case reviews. Oncologists should be able to access subspecialty expertise as needed to review treatment plans and access the latest evidence-based recommendations, thereby improving outcomes and avoiding unnecessary interventions. As oncologists learn more from these case reviews, they can activate these insights across their patients with similar cancers.

Promote clinical trials. Subspecialists can also keep community doctors aware of emerging clinical trials, which are key for advancing new treatments, and an estimated 70 percent of adult cancer patients are willing to participate in. It’s hard to expect community oncologists to keep up with patient visits and care plans while simultaneously researching emerging clinical trials and identifying patients who may qualify (especially considering that new trials arise frequently).

Recommend and interpret genetic testing results. In some cases, genetic testing can lead to significant improvements in cancer care. By collaborating with specialists, oncologists can more readily recommend and interpret genetic testing results to guide optimal treatment plans. These recommendations make it quicker for oncologists to prescribe increasingly personalized, evidence-based treatments.

Closing the cancer care knowledge gap

Community oncologists are unsung heroes who are helping people through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

Given the rise in cancer rates and a continuing shortage of oncologists, oncology subspecialists are vital for connecting community oncologists to the latest cancer breakthroughs. Further, their expertise can help community oncologists explore clinical trials and use genetic testing to improve care outcomes.

By coupling academic knowledge with expert local care, we can achieve a future where everyone should be able to receive optimal treatment for their unique cancer—regardless of the zip code they live in.

Todd Sachs is a surgeon and physician executive.

Prev

Traditional Chinese medicine's holistic approach [PODCAST]

December 31, 2023 Kevin 0
…
Next

5 things digital health companies need to do to achieve success

January 1, 2024 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Oncology/Hematology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Traditional Chinese medicine's holistic approach [PODCAST]
Next Post >
5 things digital health companies need to do to achieve success

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Despite progress in cancer care, cost and equity challenges still must be addressed

    David M. Aboulafia, MD
  • A letter to a cancer patient in palliative care

    Alison Vasa
  • “System-ness”: the key to successful health care transformation

    Robert Pearl, MD
  • Cancer care costs everyone too much. What can we do about it?

    Andrew Hertler, MD
  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • Integrated care is the key to optimizing cancer outcomes

    Chelsey Lindner, PharmD

More in Conditions

  • What Elon Musk and Diddy reveal about the price of power

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

    Maire Daugharty, MD
  • Why medicine must stop worshipping burnout and start valuing humanity

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Why perinatal mental health is the top cause of maternal death in the U.S.

    Sheila Noon
  • A world without vaccines: What history teaches us about public health

    Drew Remignanti, MD, MPH
  • Unraveling the mystery behind one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications: preeclampsia

    Thomas McElrath, MD, PhD and Kara Rood, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why helping people means more than getting an MD

      Vaishali Jha | Education
    • Why public health must be included in AI development

      Laura E. Scudiere, RN, MPH | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

      David Carmouche, MD | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • Why helping people means more than getting an MD

      Vaishali Jha | Education
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
    • Why evidence-based management may be an effective strategy for stronger health care leadership and equity

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • Residency match tips: Building mentorship, research, and community

      Simran Kaur, MD and Eva Shelton, MD | Education
    • From Founding Fathers to modern battles: physician activism in a politicized era [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why helping people means more than getting an MD

      Vaishali Jha | Education
    • Why public health must be included in AI development

      Laura E. Scudiere, RN, MPH | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

      David Carmouche, MD | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • Why helping people means more than getting an MD

      Vaishali Jha | Education
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
    • Why evidence-based management may be an effective strategy for stronger health care leadership and equity

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • Residency match tips: Building mentorship, research, and community

      Simran Kaur, MD and Eva Shelton, MD | Education
    • From Founding Fathers to modern battles: physician activism in a politicized era [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...