The Community
Oncology Alliance
Quality & Value
Standards
A Foundational Roadmap for
Cancer Care Excellence
Independent community oncology practices across the country are providing patients with high-quality, evidence-based, and cutting-edge cancer care that is affordable and accessible. Cancer providers are being challenged to communicate and prove this commitment to patients, payers, and other stakeholders in order to remain competitive. This is because overall cancer spending has increased and the patient experience has deteriorated, often due to the shift in site of service from the independent provider to the hospital setting.
COA developed a set of Quality and Value Standards for cancer care to serve as a foundation for practices that wish to ensure the provision of high-quality care, participate in certification programs, as well as discuss and demonstrate what quality care is with patients, employers, and other payers for cancer care.
The Community Oncology Alliance
Quality & Value Standards
A Foundational Roadmap for Cancer Care Excellence
Independent community oncology practices across the country are providing patients with high-quality, evidence-based, and cutting-edge cancer care that is affordable and accessible. Cancer providers are being challenged to communicate and prove this commitment to patients, payers, and other stakeholders in order to remain competitive. This is because overall cancer spending has increased and the patient experience has deteriorated, often due to the shift in site of service from the independent provider to the hospital setting.
COA developed a set of Quality and Value Standards for cancer care to serve as a foundation for practices that wish to ensure the provision of high-quality care, participate in certification programs, as well as discuss and demonstrate what quality care is with patients, employers, and other payers for cancer care.
Eight pillars of high-value, patient-centered cancer care & personalized support services
Eight pillars of high-value, patient-centered cancer care & personalized support services
Partners
Patients and caregivers are engaged and educated as partners throughout their cancer care journey.
Extended Support
Patients have access to care teams and support outside of regularly scheduled appointments and office hours, as needed.
Education & Access
Practice provides evidence-based care, supports second opinions, and provides education on, or access to, clinical trials.
Team-Based Care
Practice provides closely coordinated, integrated, team-based cancer care to patients.
Satisfaction
Practice is committed to constantly improving quality and ensuring patient satisfaction through ongoing efforts to track processes, monitor safety, and assess patient care.
Advanced Care Planning
Practice is committed to advanced care planning, advanced directives, and other legal documents tailored to individual patients.
Safety
Practice care teams are trained and credentialed in the safe administration of antineoplastic agents.
High-quality & Affordability
Practice is committed to focusing on providing high-value cancer care and lowering the cost of care and out-of-pocket expenses patients face.
Partners
Patients and caregivers are engaged and educated as partners throughout their cancer care journey.
Extended Support
Patients have access to care teams and support outside of regularly scheduled appointments and office hours, as needed.
Education & Access
Practice provides evidence-based care, supports second opinions, and provides education on, or access to, clinical trials.
Team-Based Care
Practice provides closely coordinated, integrated, team-based cancer care to patients.
Satisfaction
Practice is committed to constantly improving quality and ensuring patient satisfaction through ongoing efforts to track processes, monitor safety, and assess patient care.
Advanced Care Planning
Practice is committed to advanced care planning, advanced directives, and other legal documents tailored to individual patients.
Safety
Practice care teams are trained and credentialed in the safe administration of antineoplastic agents.
High-quality & Affordability
Practice is committed to focusing on providing high-value cancer care and lowering the cost of care and out-of-pocket expenses patients face.
How to Use the Standards
The COA Quality and Value Standards are meant to provide a framework for practices to begin their quality journey and are not a formal certification or assessment program. Oncology practices can use the Standards as a reference to easily assess their operations and performance, as well as prepare a foundation for participation in national certification programs, networks, or initiatives.
Each Standard aligns with existing leading national quality programs, such as COA’s previously developed Oncology Medical Home (OMH) standards, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Certified recognition program, the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM), the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHIs) “Triple Aim” framework.
Practices can use the Standards as a reference to:
- Assess practice performance and operations.
- Prepare for participation in cancer certifications and comprehensive programs.
- Demonstrate a commitment to quality and value with patients, employers, payers, and other stakeholders.
