From robotics to text messaging, here are five ways health systems have improved cancer care:
- Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center saved its cancer patients more than 60 minutes per visit when text messaging was offered as an alternative to in-person immunotherapy check-ins.
- Houston-based University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center freed up operating rooms at its main campus by opening the Northwest Houston Surgical and Specialty Care facility in 2023. Patients can undergo outpatient procedures and surgeries at the center, eliminating the need to be admitted to the hospital. The center performed 1,450 surgeries in 2024.
- After CMS finalized six navigation services billing codes, two hospitals reported immediate positive effects.
New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health Cancer Institute reported a more than 60% decrease in wait times for surgical oncologist appointments over nine months after implementing navigation services.
Fort Myers, Fla.-based Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute reported a 40% reduction in emergency room visits for qualified, high-risk patients after implementing navigation services.
- Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth embedded an AI-powered Genomics Risk Assessment for Cancer and Early Detection program into its electronic medical record. With the program, the system saw a 23% increase in the number of patients identified as having a high risk of developing breast cancer.
- Sacramento, Calif.-based UC Davis Health increased stage 1 lung cancer diagnoses by 49% combining robotic and 3D imaging technologies.