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Oncology Issues Journal

Oncology Issues is the official journal of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC). As one of the only non-clinical, programmatic journals covering cancer, Oncology Issues provides “how-to” articles for the entire multidisciplinary oncology care team, on a wide range of topics.

Implementing Smart Texting to Reduce Inpatient Admissions and Emergency Department Visits

2024 ACCC Innovator Award winner Mercy Health used predictive algorithms and smart texting to significantly reduce inpatient admissions and emergency department visits for patients with cancer. By proactively engaging high-risk patients through digital outreach, Mercy ensures timely symptom management and improves the overall quality of life for those undergoing chemotherapy, creating new benchmarks in patient-centered health care.
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Also In This Issue:

A Sustainable Model for Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance and Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center received a 2024 Innovator Award for its use of AI software integrated with the electronic health record to accurately identify and capture pancreatic abnormalities from radiology reports and conduct longitudinal surveillance of patients.
Creating a Community-Wide Safety Net With Centralized Tracking and Management of Incidental Lung Nodules
To ensure appropriate follow-up for patients with incidental lung nodules, 2024 Innovator Award winner UCHealth leveraged an AI solution to evaluate radiology interpretations, identify incidental lung nodules and their characteristics, and stratify and triage patients within their database based on risk level. Equipped to automatically send tailored communications to patients, track follow-up imaging and exams, and update the database for ongoing surveillance, this solution effectively created a safety net for all patients with incidental lung nodules.
An Innovative Program Addresses Housing Insecurity
Over the past 15 years, Montefiore Health System’s Housing at Risk Program has worked to bridge the gap between medical care and social services through its robust database, early identification system for high-risk patients, and comprehensive follow-up. By treating patients as whole individuals and addressing the root causes of their challenges, the team has redefined what it means to provide care.
Adverse Event Management for CDK Inhibitors in Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer
Three CDK4/6 inhibitors have recently been approved for use in patients with breast cancer to slow and stop the growth of cancer cells. Learn more about the common adverse effects and management strategies to promote adherence to these agents.
Bridging Oncology and Dermatology: Integrating Dermatologic Toxicity Management Into Routine Cancer Care
Although diagnosis and symptom severity may vary, most patients undergoing cancer therapy will experience a dermatologic adverse event at some point during treatment, often causing physical discomfort, emotional distress, financial burdens, and even interruptions in life-saving cancer therapy. Learn more about the positive impact of supportive oncodermatology services and how cancer centers have integrated these services into their continuum of care.
Addressing Social Drivers of Health: A Quality Improvement Approach to Developing Oncology-Specific Screening Tools
Social drivers of health can significantly influence a patient’s ability to receive a timely diagnosis, access specialized care, adhere to treatment plans, and obtain support for managing their condition. To address the inequalities stemming from these social drivers, ACCC developed an oncology-specific screening tool and resource library to better equip multidisciplinary cancer care teams with the skills needed to identify and address these barriers to care.
Bringing Cancer Research to the Community: Strategic Approaches to Representative Oncology Clinical Trial Design
In an effort to collaboratively and strategically reduce barriers to clinical trial participation, ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute hosted the Community Inclusive Clinical Trial Design Summit in the fall of 2024. Key actionable strategies that emerged from the discussion include the need to strengthen the clinical trial workforce, engage with communities outside of clinical trial interactions, and expand research access through decentralized clinical trials.
Treatment for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Care Team Perspectives on a Bispecific Antibody
With the emergence of bispecific antibody therapies in multiple myeloma, community cancer centers are establishing clinical protocols to support patients receiving care locally. Hear from a multiple myeloma treatment team about their experience implementing a bispecific antibody therapy in the community setting.