Our Baptist Cancer Center (BCC) was one of only 200 practices selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM), a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) model that supports and encourages higher quality, more coordinated cancer care. The OCM encourages practices to improve care and lower costs through episode and performance-based payments that reward high-quality patient care. It is based on the oncology medical home, a patient-focused, coordinated and efficient system of delivering quality cancer care. CMS also designated BCC as an oncology medical home.
These accomplishments are great for BCC, but they’re even better for our patients. Initiatives like these put the patient’s needs first, and they put the onus on us to deliver care that’s in the best interest of the patient. We’re excited to participate in these and other programs, like the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, that ask providers to pay attention to more than the care provided at the bedside or in the physician’s office.
The OCM requires our physicians to coordinate care with other physicians and surgeons providing care for our cancer patients, ensuring patients receive timely, 24/7 access to care; make sure test results are received before patient appointments; and provide access to additional resources such as emotional support groups, pain management services and clinical trials.
I am grateful to all the team members who made these achievements possible. Their hard work will help us deliver even better care to our patients during the most challenging times in their lives. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team directing patient care.
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