National Study Shows Patients Experience Longer Survival Outside Hospital Settings, Reinforces Value of Community Cancer Care Practices
ROCK ROW, WESTBROOK, MAINE — A landmark national study released by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) in partnership with Flatiron Health found that patients with two of the most common metastatic cancers experienced consistently longer survival when treated in community oncology practices compared with national benchmarks. The findings add to growing evidence that where patients receive cancer care can have a meaningful impact on outcomes.
The first-of-its-kind analysis compared outcomes for patients treated within Flatiron Health’s nationwide community oncology network against data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Across both metastatic breast cancer and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, patients receiving care in community oncology practices demonstrated higher one-, three-, and five-year survival rates.
“These findings affirm something we’ve believed for years—that patients do best when they receive highly specialized cancer care in their own communities,” said Dr. Devon Evans, President of New England Cancer Specialists. “Community oncology combines the latest therapies, clinical trials, multidisciplinary expertise, and personalized relationships in a setting designed around the patient. When patients can receive exceptional care close to home, they’re more likely to stay on treatment, avoid unnecessary disruptions, and maintain a better quality of life throughout their cancer journey.”
For patients throughout Maine and New Hampshire, the findings reinforce the value of receiving cancer treatment in a physician-led community practice rather than a hospital outpatient department whenever clinically appropriate.
“The future of cancer care isn’t simply about new drugs,” said Dr. Christian Thomas, Medical Director of Clinical Research at New England Cancer Specialists. “It’s about delivering those therapies in the right setting, with the right team, in a way that makes treatment easier for patients and families. Community oncology has become the gold standard for delivering that experience.”
Community oncology practices differ from hospital-based programs by focusing exclusively on cancer care. Patients often benefit from greater continuity with their care team, shorter wait times, easier access to physicians and advanced practice providers, and treatment in outpatient clinics designed specifically for oncology. In addition to the clinical advantages, community oncology frequently delivers care at a lower overall cost. Community oncology practices are further distinguished from traditional hospital systems by their independent, physician-led structure. This model enables greater agility, allowing them to adopt new best practices, innovative therapies, and patient-centered care models more quickly than larger, more complex health systems. A published site-of-service analysis found that patients receiving chemotherapy in community oncology clinics incurred average monthly costs 20% to 39% lower than comparable patients treated in hospital outpatient settings. Another study by Avalere Health Advisory showed that Medicare spending is substantially lower when care is delivered in physician-led community oncology practices rather than hospital outpatient departments. On average, Medicare pays 49% less for medication therapy administration and office visits provided in community oncology settings, and 87% less for common diagnostic procedures such as biopsies. Additional research has similarly concluded that physician-led community oncology practices achieve comparable or better outcomes while reducing overall costs of care.
At New England Cancer Specialists, this model has continued to evolve through investments in precision medicine, clinical research, multidisciplinary disease-specific programs, survivorship services, nutrition, financial navigation, and genetic counseling. These services are all designed to reduce barriers to care while allowing patients to remain under the supervision of their oncology team.
“I can’t think of any more important news than this to share with our community.,” said Claire Cote, Chief Operations Officer at New England Cancer Specialists. “As a breast cancer survivor, I have always felt that our goal at NECS was to provide patients and loved ones with more time. Now there is further evidence that our approach to cancer care significantly extends life.”
The study also arrives at a time when policymakers continue to examine the rising cost of cancer care in hospital outpatient settings. Numerous independent analyses have found that hospital outpatient departments frequently receive higher reimbursement than physician offices for many of the same cancer treatments, increasing costs for both patients and the healthcare system while offering equivalent outpatient services in many cases. Community oncology practices provide an important alternative by delivering specialized cancer care in lower-cost, patient-centered environments.
New England Cancer Specialists is Maine’s largest independent oncology practice and has expanded access to advanced cancer care through physician-led community practices across Maine and New Hampshire, telemedicine, and innovative home-based treatment options that allow eligible patients to remain under the care of their oncology team while reducing travel and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.
The complete Community Oncology Alliance and Flatiron Health study are available through the Community Oncology Alliance.
References
Community Oncology Alliance & Flatiron Health. Cancer Patients Experience Longer Survival in Community Oncology Settings. https://mycoa.communityoncology.org/news-updates/press-releases/community-oncology-alliance-partner-with-flatiron-on-study-of-cancer-patients-experience-longer-survival-in-community-oncology-settings/
Community Oncology Alliance. Site of Care Cost Analysis White Paper. Community oncology chemotherapy costs were found to be approximately 20–39% lower than hospital outpatient departments. https://communityoncology.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Site-of-Care-Cost-Analysis-White-Paper_9.25.17.pdf
About New England Cancer Specialists
New England Cancer Specialists is an independent, physician-owned oncology practice providing comprehensive cancer care throughout Maine and New Hampshire. As the region’s only affiliate member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an ASCO-certified Oncology Medical Home, NECS combines nationally recognized expertise with the accessibility and personal attention of community-based care. Its multidisciplinary teams offer medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, surgery, imaging, pharmacy, genetics, clinical research, supportive care and other services designed to help patients receive coordinated, high-quality care close to home.