Quality Improvement Collaboration: Integration of Precision Medicine in Community Oncology

Research shows that throughout the precision oncology care pathway, many patients eligible for personalized treatments disengage or are not successfully retained at multiple stages. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for example, key barriers include delayed or missed biomarker testing, initiation of treatment before test results are complete, incomplete biomarker assessments, and lack of action on test results. While these issues are prevalent in NSCLC, they extend across all solid tumors.

With the expanding availability of targeted therapies, clinical trials, and evolving biomarker testing guidelines, community clinicians face significant challenges in staying current with these advances and making evidence-based treatment decisions.

In the US, approximately 80% of cancer patients receive care from community oncologists, who manage diverse cancer types and large patient volumes. Insights from previous ACCC educational programs reveal that clinicians are often overwhelmed by the rapid influx of new information on cancer therapies. This information overload underscores the need for targeted education on novel treatments, updated clinical guidelines, biomarker testing, quality improvement strategies, and enhanced healthcare delivery practices.

To address this need, ACCC, in partnership with Lilly, is offering up to $1 million in funding to support 7-10 Quality Improvement (QI) and Implementation Science (IS) initiatives aimed at reducing care gaps for patients with solid tumors. Grants of up to $150,000 per program are available for ACCC member institutions ready to drive measurable improvements along the precision oncology care pathway.

This grant program is designed to fund initiatives that identify and address critical points of patient loss in precision oncology. Selected projects should focus on impactful quality improvement by applying evidence-based methodologies to analyze gaps, identify root causes, and implement process improvements within healthcare systems.

Eligible projects will:

• Analyze and address key healthcare gaps in patient outcomes, system processes, and/or healthcare provider performance.
• Implement measurable interventions to reduce variation and improve care quality for patients with solid tumors.
• Demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve long-term impact.

Grant Requirements

Applicants should provide a 10-page comprehensive proposal that includes:

• A one-page overview of the project’s purpose, scope, and expected outcomes.
• Outline management and direct expenses, including total funds requested.
• Evidence-based data on system or care process gaps impacting patient outcomes.
• Specific QI strategies (e.g., PDSA cycles) for addressing gaps.
• Defined metrics to assess improvements in process, performance, or patient outcomes.
• Proposals must include strategies for sustaining improvements and potential scaling for broader impact.

Eligibility

Any ACCC member institution, including community hospital-based programs and physician group practices, is eligible to apply. Institutions must demonstrate QI experience, outline key team members’ roles, and provide leadership support for sustaining improvements.

Apply Now

To access the application portal, visit https://portal.lillygrantoffice.com.

For more information on this program, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.