Flatiron Health, a leader in healthtech innovations for oncology, has joined forces with the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) to significantly transform the landscape of cancer clinical trials in community settings. This strategic partnership aims to make clinical trials more accessible and to streamline data management through advanced technological solutions like the Flatiron Clinical Pipe™. This collaborative effort is poised to enhance patient care, improve resource allocation, and democratize access to cutting-edge cancer treatments.
The Collaborative Mission: Enhancing Cancer Clinical Trials
Bridging Care and Research
Flatiron Health focuses on integrating innovative technologies with oncology care to bridge the gap between clinical practice and research. The partnership with ACCC, comprising over 40,000 multidisciplinary practitioners, aims to enhance access to clinical trials in community settings. This is a significant step towards ensuring that more patients receive cutting-edge treatments. By fostering a collaborative environment, the two organizations aim to make modern cancer care more inclusive and efficient.
The introduction of advanced tools like the Flatiron Clinical Pipe™, an innovative EHR-to-EDC data capture solution, stands as a testament to this integration effort. This tool will enable community cancer centers to manage clinical study data more effectively, thereby streamlining the otherwise laborious data capture processes. By reducing the complexity involved in transferring data from electronic health records (EHR) to electronic data capture (EDC) systems, the partnership seeks to bridge existing gaps between research and clinical practice seamlessly.
Democratizing Access
The collaboration is vital in democratizing access to clinical trials. Dr. Sumanta K. Pal, Chair of ACCC’s Community Oncology Research Institute (ACORI), emphasizes the importance of incorporating advanced technology into community cancer centers. This integration is expected to standardize trial accessibility, making it easier for more patients to participate and receive potential life-saving treatments. With over five decades of experience, ACCC has been instrumental in addressing workforce shortages and health disparities, making this partnership incredibly impactful.
Expanding clinical trials into diverse community settings ensures that underrepresented patient populations gain access to innovative treatments. This inclusive approach can potentially address previous inequities in clinical research participation. By making trials more accessible, the collaboration not only improves patient outcomes but also enriches the data pool with varied demographics, ultimately resulting in more comprehensive and applicable research findings.
Flatiron Clinical Pipe™: A Technological Breakthrough
Streamlining Data Capture
Flatiron Clinical Pipe™ is a groundbreaking tool designed to efficiently capture and transfer clinical study data from electronic health records (EHR) to electronic data capture (EDC) systems. According to pilot studies, this tool can save an average of one hour per patient visit by simplifying the handling of laboratory data. The reduction in manual data entry significantly lowers the workload for research staff. This efficiency allows clinical staff to allocate more time toward patient care and other critical tasks, thus enhancing operational effectiveness in cancer care practices.
By eliminating time-consuming manual data entry, Flatiron Clinical Pipe™ enables faster and more transparent data management processes. This can be particularly useful for large-scale clinical trials where precise and timely data capture is essential. The technology ensures that both structured and unstructured data from patient visits are accurately mapped and transferred, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies. This innovation is set to revolutionize the way clinical data is managed, making oncology research faster and more reliable.
Enhancing Efficiency
By introducing Flatiron Clinical Pipe to ACCC member practices, the partnership aims to streamline clinical data management processes. Efficient data capture tools enable clinical centers to conduct more studies with less strain on resources, facilitating better management of patient care and study schedules. This fosters a more dynamic and responsive research environment in oncology. Enhanced efficiency also means increased potential for discovering novel treatment methods, thus benefiting the wider cancer care community.
Through improved resource allocation and reduced manual workloads, community cancer centers can now better serve their patients while simultaneously participating in groundbreaking research. This balanced approach allows healthcare providers to maintain high standards of patient care without sacrificing the quality or quantity of research activities. As a result, oncology centers can prioritize both patient outcomes and clinical trial success, fostering a holistic healthcare environment.
Perspectives from Key Stakeholders
ACCC’s Commitment to Innovation
ACCC has been instrumental in oncology care for over five decades, tackling workforce shortages and health disparities while striving for comprehensive patient care solutions. Implementing Flatiron Clinical Pipe aligns with ACCC’s mission to leverage innovative technologies for improved patient outcomes and operational efficiencies within cancer care practices. This commitment to innovation underscores ACCC’s role as a leader in the oncology care community, continually seeking ways to enhance and modernize cancer treatment methods.
The partnership with Flatiron Health reflects ACCC’s ongoing dedication to supporting its network of over 40,000 multidisciplinary practitioners. By integrating advanced technological solutions, ACCC aims to provide its member practices with the tools necessary to conduct rigorous and extensive clinical trials. This approach not only supports the professional development of its members but also ensures that patients across community settings receive the highest standard of care possible.
Impact on Oncology Research
Ivy Altomare, MD, Head of Research Oncology at Flatiron Health, underscores the partnership’s potential to widen the scope of cancer clinical research. By reducing the administrative burden on research staff, more energy can be focused on patient-centric activities, thus promoting a robust research culture within community cancer centers. This cultural shift towards prioritizing patient engagement and care is expected to result in increased participation in clinical trials and more diverse study populations.
The integration of Flatiron Clinical Pipe™ within community oncology settings will enable centers to manage larger volumes of clinical trial data seamlessly. This increased capacity for data management supports more extensive and inclusive clinical research, ultimately leading to more comprehensive findings and improved treatment protocols. As a result, the partnership is poised to make significant strides in the fight against cancer, contributing to new therapies and better patient outcomes.
Evolving Trends in Oncology
Embracing Advanced Technologies
The Flatiron Health and ACCC collaboration is part of a larger trend toward incorporating advanced technologies in oncology research. Both organizations are members of CancerX, a public-private initiative endorsed by The White House, aimed at accelerating cancer research through technological innovation. This partnership reflects a larger industry movement toward data-driven, efficient cancer care. By leveraging cutting-edge tools and methodologies, oncology care providers are better equipped to tackle the complex challenges of cancer treatment and research.
The adoption of advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and real-world evidence is driving significant changes in clinical research. These tools enable more precise data analysis, faster study timelines, and more personalized treatment approaches. By staying at the forefront of technological innovation, the Flatiron Health and ACCC partnership ensures that community oncology practices can access and benefit from the latest advancements in cancer care.
Use of AI and Machine Learning
Flatiron Health employs machine learning and artificial intelligence to convert patient experiences into actionable insights. By leveraging real-world evidence, they aim to create a more interconnected oncology ecosystem. These technologies enhance decision-making processes, expedite research timelines, and improve overall patient outcomes. The use of AI and machine learning allows for more accurate predictive modeling, helping healthcare providers anticipate patient needs and tailor treatments accordingly.
The integration of these advanced technologies into oncology care is transforming the way clinical trials are conducted and how patient data is utilized. By harnessing the power of AI and machine learning, Flatiron Health and ACCC are paving the way for more efficient and effective cancer treatments. This data-driven approach ensures that oncology care is not only more responsive to patient needs but also more adaptable to the evolving landscape of cancer research.
Future Implications and Benefits
Expanding Clinical Trial Capacity
The strategic partnership aims to increase the capacity for clinical trials within community settings, making advanced treatments accessible to a broader patient demographic. By streamlining data management, more studies can be conducted simultaneously, offering patients a wider array of clinical trial options. This expansion of clinical trial capacity ensures that more patients can benefit from cutting-edge treatments, leading to improved outcomes and a higher standard of cancer care.
With the implementation of Flatiron Clinical Pipe™, community cancer centers can handle larger volumes of clinical trial data with greater ease and accuracy. This increased capacity for data management supports more extensive research efforts, ultimately contributing to the development of new and improved cancer therapies. By providing more patients with access to clinical trials, the partnership between Flatiron Health and ACCC fosters a more inclusive and equitable approach to cancer care.
Addressing Workforce Shortages
Workforce shortages in healthcare are a critical issue. By automating and simplifying the data capture process, Flatiron Clinical Pipe relieves the pressure on research staff, allowing them to allocate their expertise more effectively. This transformation ensures that community cancer centers can handle a larger volume of clinical trials without compromising on care quality. By reducing administrative burdens, research staff can focus more on direct patient care and other critical responsibilities.
The partnership between Flatiron Health and ACCC aims to address these workforce challenges by providing community cancer centers with the tools and technologies needed to manage clinical trial data more efficiently. This approach not only eases the workload on existing staff but also helps attract and retain talented professionals in the oncology field. By creating a more supportive and efficient work environment, the collaboration ensures that community cancer centers can continue to deliver high-quality care to their patients.
Reducing Health Disparities
Flatiron Health, a trailblazer in healthtech innovations focused on oncology, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC). This collaboration aims to revolutionize the landscape of cancer clinical trials within community settings, making them more accessible and efficient. By leveraging advanced technological solutions like the Flatiron Clinical Pipe™, the partnership seeks to streamline data management processes. This initiative is set to significantly enhance patient care by improving how resources are allocated and utilized. Furthermore, it aims to democratize access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, ensuring that more patients benefit from the latest advancements in oncology. This joint effort between Flatiron Health and ACCC underscores a shared commitment to transforming cancer care through technological innovation and collaboration. By bridging gaps in clinical trial accessibility and operational efficiency, this partnership is poised to make a lasting impact on patient outcomes and the overall effectiveness of cancer treatment strategies. Together, they are paving the way for a new era in community-based cancer care.
