Recognizing the critical role genomic testing and targeted therapies play in providing high-quality cancer treatment, McKesson has launched a transformative initiative that will address the clinical challenges and administrative burden practices face in this new era of biomarker-directed oncology care. Precision Care Companion (PCC) is a consortium of industry experts, led by McKesson, that helps healthcare practices improve patient care. They do this through a multi-faceted approach that includes providing targeted education, technology enhancements, operational best practices, and detailed analytics on biomarker testing rates for different cancer diagnoses.
“In the rapidly evolving field of biomarker testing, staying current with the latest science and treatment guidelines for each cancer can be challenging and time-consuming for providers and clinical staff,” noted Marcus Neubauer, MD, chief medical officer for The US Oncology Network. “PCC empowers providers to efficiently order comprehensive genomic testing and receive results directly into the workflow, enabling them to prescribe the most effective targeted therapies to achieve optimal outcomes.”
The consortium model was intentionally chosen for its ability to unite diverse perspectives – physicians, clinicians, industry partners, and business leaders – creating a collaborative environment that drives innovation, uncovers real-world clinical challenges, and accelerates the adoption of precision technologies and therapies. With this innovative approach, McKesson is pioneering a new era in personalized cancer treatment, enhancing the adoption of targeted therapies, and improving patient outcomes across community oncology.
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PCC is being deployed across The US Oncology Network (The Network), which supports more than 2,750 independent, community-based providers. This implementation allows the PCC team to support each step of the patient care journey — from test ordering and results review to guideline-informed targeted therapy decisions — and collate analytics and best practices to share across participating practices, driving continuous improvement in precision oncology.
In addition to enabling enhanced clinical decision support within Ontada’s iKnowMedSM electronic health record (EHR), a key focus of the program is to provide meaningful education and support to practices in a format that works best for them. All PCC participants have access to a robust range of educational and consultative services to meet their specific needs. Offerings include monthly master class webinars, a precision medicine boot camp, a molecular helpline for urgent questions about a specific patient’s biomarker test results, and lab-agnostic molecular tumor boards.
“Precision Care Companion is not just another program — it is a testament to McKesson’s unwavering commitment to advance community oncology so providers can efficiently offer targeted, personalized cancer care while keeping patients close to home,” said Jason Hammonds, chief operating officer of Oncology & Specialty for McKesson. “From accelerating the clinical development of new treatments to empowering practices with cutting-edge technology and real-world evidence that helps them to improve health outcomes, our work continues to elevate cancer care.”
Source: Businesswire