Advancing Cancer Care Thru Data Standardization: The Enhancing Oncology Model
The fight against cancer demands collaboration and, increasingly, relies on the power of data. The Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) is a pivotal initiative designed to standardize essential cancer-related clinical data within electronic health records (EHRs). This standardization is key to improving how we share details, deliver care, and ultimately, improve outcomes for cancer patients.
The Challenge of Cancer Data Interoperability
For too long, cancer data has been fragmented across different healthcare systems. this lack of interoperability hinders research, complicates care coordination, and makes it difficult to track progress on a national scale. The EOM directly addresses this challenge.
USCDI+ Cancer: A Collaborative Approach
The USCDI+ Cancer team began by focusing on the EOM Use Case to demonstrate the feasibility of exchanging cancer data using established Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources® (FHIR®) standards. This wasn’t a solo effort.
Numerous organizations joined forces, including:
ASTP
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
The HL7® minimal Clinical Oncology Data Elements (mCODE) group
Together, they rapidly developed a FHIR Implementation Guide to support the submission of clinical and sociodemographic data for EOM’s performance Period 1 (PP1). This guide prepared providers for the reporting submission deadline of October 31, 2024.
“High Tech” vs.”Low Tech” Reporting for PP1
For PP1, providers had two options for submitting the required data elements:
“Low Tech”: Traditional chart abstraction – a manual, time-consuming process.
“High Tech”: Automated submission via FHIR API - a streamlined, efficient approach.The results were encouraging.Several vendors successfully transmitted data on behalf of their EOM-enrolled providers to CMS using FHIR API, mCODE, and aligning with USCDI+ Cancer data elements. Early feedback suggests a growing trend toward the “high tech” method as we move into Performance Period 2.
Why This Matters to You
what does this mean for you, whether you’re a healthcare provider, a patient, or a researcher?
For Providers: Streamlined reporting, reduced administrative burden, and the ability to participate in value-based care initiatives.
For Patients: More coordinated care, access to the latest research, and perhaps improved outcomes.
For Researchers: Access to larger, more complete datasets to accelerate discoveries and improve cancer prevention and treatment.
The Power of Collaboration & Future Outlook
The success of the EOM’s initial phase underscores the vital importance of interagency and cross-sector collaboration. Addressing the complexities of data standards and interoperability requires a unified effort.
FHIR-based reporting for cancer data is a significant step toward a more connected and effective healthcare system. Continued partnerships and commitment from all stakeholders are essential as we work to improve cancer care nationwide and deliver high-quality, patient-centered treatment for all.