Effective July 1, Aetna and the University of Chicago Medicine have announced a collaboration to form an oncology medical home to improve cancer patients' care experiences.
The facility enables teams of cancer specialists to work together to aid patients with a cancer diagnosis. The University of Chicago Medicine now has the responsibility to arrange suitable and practical care for patients.
"We understand that cancer treatment can be the hardest experience that our members will ever have to go through," said Michael Kolodziej, MD, Aetna's national medical director for Oncology Solutions. "This oncology medical home with the University of Chicago Medicine will help give our members optimal care and an optimal patient experience."
The UChicago Medicine and Aetna medical home will offer:
- An orientation to the whole person. A personal physician from UChicago Medicine will provide or arrange for each patient's healthcare needs, including preventive services, acute care, chronic care and end-of-life care.
- Evidence-based, personalized medical care. The UChicago Medicine team will design unique and personalized treatment for each patient by utilizing University of Chicago's Clinical Pathways.
- Coordinated and integrated care. Aetna members will be able to receive appropriate care in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
- Quality and safety. The team will make use of evidence-based medicine, clinical decision support tools and accountability for continuous quality improvement.
- Enhanced access to care. Facets of the facility include open scheduling, expanded hours and new options for communication between Aetna members, their personal physicians and hospital staff.
The model is one step in the transition from fee-for-service reimbursement to value-based payment. Aetna is currently working with healthcare organizations across the nation to develop value-driven care.