CareEdge: a patient-centered approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment planning (podcast)
[audio http://healthbb.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/ctca3.mp3]
An initial diagnosis of cancer is enough bad news for anyone, but unfortunately it often also comes along with being thrown into an oncology diagnosis and treatment environment that is a lot less patient centered than one might expect. Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) has recognized the challenges cancer patients face and is positioning itself as a destination for empowered patients.I spoke today with Stephen B. Bonner, CEO of CTCA, about a new diagnostic and treatment planning offering called CareEdge, which is designed to address the four things CTCA has determined patients want to know after finding out they have cancer:
- As much information as possible about their particular cancer, e.g., where it is, how far it's progressed
- What treatment options are available
- How much it will cost them
- How quickly they can get into care
The diagnostic bundle reminds me of a transparent, patient-friendly approach I saw in Singapore when I was researching medical tourism a few years ago. It's about time we saw it in the US market.