Clinical
trials are now a key component of quality cancer care in the
community setting. With expanded reimbursement by Medicare
and other payors, even smaller programs are developing clinical
research programs.
In
its second report on quality in cancer care, the Institute
of Medicine calls for a national cancer quality data set and
a national data system to collect standard data about quality
of care. Download this new report at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9970.html
Many predict that very soon, Medicare will no longer allow
any mark-up in chemotherapy prices in physicians' offices.
The impact of this change on hospitals will be dramatic.
National
guidelines, such as those of the National Comprehensive Cancer
Network, are recommending conformal radiation therapy and
twice daily treatment for some cancers. How will this impact
your radiation therapy service as patterns of care change?
Addressing
the "disconnect" between the bench and the bedside:
more funding for translational research, and more funding
for cancer research as a whole. $10 billion for cancer research
by 2005?
The
National Cancer will continue to provide funds for cancer
center planning and new cancer center designation. If yours
is a large, mature program in a teaching hospital, is this
an option for your program's development? Or is affiliation
with an existing NCI-designated cancer center your best choice?
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