How cancer care teams and organizations work together
Understanding Integration in Oncology Care and Association with Quality and Outcomes
['FUNDING_P01'] · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · NIH-11145939
This project looks at how different cancer care groups coordinate and which ways help patients get better, more reliable care.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11145939 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, this project examines how oncology care is organized—through ownership changes, clinics being co-located, referral networks, and the behind-the-scenes teamwork that connects providers. Researchers will carry out in-depth case studies, run surveys of organizations and clinicians, and link those findings to Medicare records to see patterns in care quality and outcomes. The work focuses on four types of organizations that touch cancer care: health systems, independent oncology practices, post-acute care and hospice providers, and specialty pharmacies. The team wants to identify which forms of integration lead to more timely, coordinated, and higher-quality care for people with cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people receiving cancer care across hospitals, independent oncology clinics, post-acute or hospice settings, or specialty pharmacies—especially Medicare beneficiaries who appear in the claims data.
Not a fit: Patients who receive care outside the U.S. or who are not captured in Medicare records may not be represented or benefit directly from this project's findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to practical ways health systems and clinics can organize care to reduce delays, fragmentation, and improve outcomes for people with cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Past research on health system mergers and care integration has shown mixed results, and this project is broader and more comprehensive by combining case studies, surveys, and Medicare data.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KEATING, NANCY L — HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- Study coordinator: KEATING, NANCY L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Cancer Treatment, Cancers