Transforming the Patient Experience
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RENEW YOUR DUES TODAY! Your 2011-2012 ACE Membership renewal is just clicks away at: November 2011 cancerexecutives.org Transforming the Patient Experience By Jan Willemse, ZGF Architects LLP s we all know, living with cancer is never tunities to take back some control of their lives. easy – certainly not for the patients, not For the Brooklyn Infusion Center, MSKCC Afor their family and friends, and not for engaged ZGF Architects LLP to work on the cre- their caregivers. Most Americans will experience ation of a facility that would support a new the difficult consequences of a cancer diagnosis “chemo-ready” model of streamlined chemother- themselves or through someone they know or apy treatment. Completed in October 2010, it’s the love. Often the intense demands of treatment can first prototype center developed by MSKCC to severely disrupt daily lives and exact significant enhance the patient care experience by drastically “Completed in October 2010, it’s the first physical and psychological tolls, leaving patients reducing patient wait times and conveniently locat- prototype center developed by MSKCC and their loved ones longing for respite. ing treatment facilities in a residential neighbor- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center hood. Patients are made “chemo-ready” by per- to enhance the patient care experience” (MSKCC), the world’s oldest and largest private forming blood work and other screening proce- cancer center, is extremely active in pursuing dures the day before in MSKCC’s Manhattan facil- patients and staff within the space while utilizing treatment options and settings that optimize the ities, then provided the chemotherapy treatment full scale mockups to test the physical and psy- cancer care experience for all involved, and in on a personalized basis at the Brooklyn center. chological parameters at work in the “chemo- lessening the negative impacts of the disease. The “chemo-ready” model was the result of ready” operational proposal. Ultimately these Through their Strategic Planning and Innovation research with patients, family and staff on the explorations confirmed efficiencies. Group, and their Design + Construction Group, chemotherapy process. This involved a series of The Brooklyn Infusion Center transforms ordi- MSKCC seeks to provide treatment and environ- observations, interviews with MSKCC staff, ‘shad- nary ground floor storefront space into a bright and ments that assist all possible aspects of healing, owing’ of patients, and workshop charrettes. The welcoming clinic that also serves as an art gallery and to give patients and their loved ones oppor- process analyzed the physical movement of Continued on page 2 > ACE Oncology 101: An Education in Cancer By Ryan Jowers, MBA, Associate Clinical Administrator, Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Calendar Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute n August 2009, I joined the Winship Cancer Institute at my first ACE conference. Flash forward a year and I am now Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, as an Associate a ‘seasoned’ cancer administrator who gave thought to for- IClinical Administrator in the Department of Hematology going the opportunity to participate in the ACE Oncology 101 and Medical Oncology. Prior to this position, I had worked program at the 2011 ACE Annual Meeting in New Orleans. elsewhere at Emory managing large academic program proj- My assumption was that by now I was well versed in most of 18TH Annual Meeting ects which had provided sparse exposure to cancer opera- the topics that would be covered during the meeting. JANUARY 18–21, 2012 tions and methodologies. Upon my arrival in my new posi- However, upon further review of the agenda I realized SAVANNAH, GA tion, the Executive Administrator for our center suggested I that many of the topics, including talks on strategic planning, Hyatt Regency Savannah join the Association of Cancer Executives (ACE) and sign up maximizing a matrix organization, and how best to use a for the ACE Oncology 101 pre-conference program, present- consultant were extremely relevant for my job and many of 19TH Annual Meeting ed in conjunction with the January 2010 ACE Annual Meeting the projects that were currently underway here at Emory. So JANUARY 23–26, 2013 in San Diego, California. I reviewed the agenda for the meet- I changed my mind and registered for the ACE Oncology 101 SAN ANTONIO, TX Grand Hyatt San Antonio ing and felt that by attending I could learn more of the one-day program. nuances of the business of cancer. 20TH Annual Meeting Mother Nature on the other hand felt differently. As I wait- An Eye-opening Day JAN. 29 – FEB. 1, 2014 ed at the airport in Atlanta to board my flight to San Diego, The Oncology 101 program was filled with interesting speak- SAN FRANCISCO, CA the worst ice storm in over two decades hit the metro area. ers and opportunities to engage others on specific topics and Palace Hotel With no flights in or out of the city I was resolved to missing Continued on page 5 > update cancerexecutives.org | November 2011 3 • Managing drug purchasing and drug short- Expanding Community Cancer Care ages—greatest impact to oncology practice profitability through Professional Services • Increased pressures for quality reporting as it relates to future payer contracting Agreements • Information technology requirements • Physician recruitment needs as groups face By Chad Schaeffer, FACHE, Partner, Oncology Solutions, LLC succession planning and physician shortages & Kelley D. Simpson, Senior Partner, Oncology Solutions, LLC • Comparative strength of hospital non- ospitals and physicians have always need- Trends Fueling the Drive for Medicare contracts ed each other. But recent changes in the Hospital-Oncologist Alignment • Possible savings of drug costs by aligning with Hhealth care landscape and regulatory Several key market conditions are driving this a 340B hospital provider environment have underscored the importance shift in the oncology landscape including: These uncertainties and unprecedented eco- of a strong alliance between the two – not just as • Expanding and emerging patient profile—expo- nomic pressures are fueling changes in the spe- sound business practice, but as a necessity for nential cancer incidence and survivorship cialty physician landscape by way of rapid consol- ensuring quality of care and long-term viability in growth idations. According to a recent survey by the the new era of value-based health care. • Frequent cuts to Medicare reimbursement for American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) In the face of increasing demands for high cancer care while some 73% of respondents remaining inde- quality, efficiency and affordability by private and • More private payers are following Medicare pendent physician-owned practices, many were governmental payers as well as consumers, even reimbursement trends and rate cuts consolidating either within a multispecialty group specialties like medical oncology that have tradi- • Growing Medicare patient population without (11%); joining a hospital either through direct tionally been hesitant to combine forces with hos- secondary insurance coverage employment of hospital-owned medical group pitals, are taking a fresh look at how they can • Many cancer drugs are being reimbursed by (6%), were physician-owned but with a hospital leverage their collective strengths to better serve Medicare at rates below cost or corporate affiliation (5%); U.S. Oncology-affili- the needs of their patients. • Increasing cost of operating medical oncology ated (2%); academic-affiliated (1%); or engaged practices Continued on page 4 > Transforming the patient experience patients feel well enough to gather with care- get some work/shopping done on the Internet, or > Continued from page 1 givers and other patients. The treatment pods are make videophone calls with friends and family. staggered along each of the Garden’s long edges, The chair also incorporates controls for lighting and neighborhood resource for health advocacy with visual and physical access to the amenities. and temperature in the pods. Family and patient presentations. It occupies 7,745 SF and has the Planters, vegetation and a water feature define amenities are integrated into each pod, such as capacity to accommodate 30 patients on a daily the Garden’s spaces, creating texture and color built in sofa and storage. basis. As patients enter they are met by a staff along circulation paths, and providing a calming The Community Gallery was placed at the street member in the lobby or can opt for the self check- sense of connection to natural elements. This frontage to serve as a visible neighborhood in monitor; there is no traditional waiting room. design approach incorporates biophilia, with its resource for health advocacy presentations and Patients then move directly to their preferred treat- growing body of medical and psychological community outreach events such as lectures and ment space, where a nurse does a final check and research indicating that patient recovery acceler- seminars about cancer prevention, screening and chemotherapy begins. Each visit patients select ates when they are connected to nature. treatment. It also doubles as gallery space for from the tranquil, private treatment pods or choose There is also a Flex Treatment Room that allows artists and patients who wish to display exhibits an interaction space in the Central Garden instead. MSKCC to offer alternative health treatments such related to their experiences with cancer. MSKCC