Innovating Together Inside The Network Series

Despite advances in precision medicine, gaps in cancer care persist. What if we could identify and address those gaps in real time? Across The US Oncology Network (The Network), physician leaders and care teams are advancing the future of oncology by transforming how we measure and improve care quality. We’re turning to digital quality measurement to make data actionable to improve outcomes for patients. These efforts are helping ensure every patient receives the right treatment at the right time.

Improving Cancer Care Through Smarter Measurement

In oncology, quality measurement is more than a reporting requirement, it’s a diagnostic tool. It helps identify gaps in care, benchmark performance, and drive continuous improvement. Whether it’s ensuring timely biomarker testing or aligning treatment with the latest evidence, quality measures guide us toward safer, more effective, and more equitable care.

Practices in The Network use these measures not only to meet external standards and regulatory program compliance but to refine internal practices. When integrated into clinical workflows, they provide real-time feedback that empowers clinicians to personalize care and respond quickly to patient needs.

Leading the Shift to Digital

Traditional quality measurement methods—like registry-based quality measures that require manual chart abstraction —are labor-intensive and often miss the nuances of oncology care. That’s why The Network is leading the shift to digital clinical quality measures (dCQMs), along with utilizing AI to access richer clinical content across the patient’s medical records.

By leveraging structured data from Ontada’s iKnowMedSM electronic health record (EHR), along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) utilizing natural language processing (NLP), and interoperability standards like Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), The Network is modernizing how practices assess care delivery. These digital tools help reduce documentation burden, improve data accuracy, and provide scalable, real-time insights that enhance clinical workflows.

Among several innovations, one standout example is the ongoing digitization of The Network’s current quality measure available through the Practice Insights Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) – PIMSH13: Mutation Testing for Stage IV Lung Cancer Completed Prior to the Start of Targeted Therapy. This measure evaluates whether patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receive comprehensive genetic testing and biomarker-directed therapy. While the digital version of PIMSH13 has not yet been completed, The Network is leading the space in digital quality measure development for oncology and is currently pursuing a proof-of-concept project to transform the existing PIMSH13 QCDR (registry-based measure) into a digital measure. This transformation aims to foster greater adoption across systems, easing technology and provider burden.

What’s Next

The successful digitization of PIMSH13 will open the door for future measures to be automated and to further explore the benefits of integrating AI in practice-facing quality measure development to further support clinical teams in delivering optimal patient care. These efforts aim to create a more agile, data-driven approach to care improvement—one that supports clinicians, empowers patients, and drives better outcomes.

By investing in digital infrastructure, collaborating across disciplines, and staying focused on patient-centered outcomes, we’re redefining what’s possible in cancer care.

Explore how our Value-Based Care program is advancing care—click to learn more.

About the Series

Innovating Together Inside The Network

Innovating Together Inside The Network

At The US Oncology Network, innovation is more than a concept—it’s a shared commitment to continuous improvement in cancer care. Through this blog series, we highlight the technology, programs, and efficiencies driving meaningful progress across The Network. From clinical advancements to operational enhancements, these stories reflect how we’re working together to elevate care, empower providers, and improve outcomes for patients—one innovation at a time.

Innovating Together Inside The Network Series

Radiation oncology is undergoing a remarkable transformation. At The US Oncology Network (The Network), we’re helping lead this change by integrating precision imaging, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and radiopharmaceuticals into clinical practice. These innovations are not only enhancing how we deliver care—they’re redefining what’s possible for patients and providers alike.

Unlocking New Precision with Imaging

Today’s imaging technologies are giving clinicians a clearer, more detailed view of tumors than ever before. Physicians in The Network use state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT) with novel imaging agents to detect tumors when they are small. Improved imaging and advances in radiation treatment allow these small tumors to be treated precisely with large doses while sparing nearby healthy tissue. The ability to detect tumors early and treat them precisely and safely is a powerful combination in the fight against cancer.

Streamlining Care with AI

AI is already making a measurable impact across The Network. AI-enabled tools like auto-contouring have significantly reduced planning time, helped with workforce shortages and improved consistency. As AI continues to advance, it is increasingly integrated into planning workflows, supporting clinicians in accelerating treatment starts. [1] These efficiencies help care teams dedicate more attention to clinical decision-making and patient interaction—delivering care that’s not only faster, but more personalized. Additionally, AI-enabled note generation saves physicians time and improves note quality. These efficiencies allow care teams to focus more on clinical decision-making and patient interaction—delivering care that’s not only faster, but more personalized. To ensure practices have the best solutions for their needs, The Network sponsors significant efforts to evaluate AI tools on an ongoing basis.

Expanding Options with Radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceuticals are emerging as a powerful new option for patients with cancers that are difficult to treat using traditional methods. Physicians in The Network can deliver  cancer-targeting radioactive molecules that prolong life and slow down cancer. These therapies offer a new level of precision and hope. Adoption in The Network has been rapid with 20 practices now offering radiopharmaceuticals. Additionally, research expertise through the Sarah Cannon Research Institute allows practices to participate in developing the next generation of even more effective radiopharmaceuticals.

Delivering Better Outcomes Today—and Preparing for Tomorrow

The impact of these advancements is already being felt—patients are starting treatment sooner, experiencing fewer side effects, and benefiting from more effective therapies. As AI and radiopharmaceuticals continue to evolve, The Network is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation in community-based cancer care.

Explore how our Radiation and Imaging program is advancing care—click to learn more.

About the Series

Innovating Together Inside The Network

Innovating Together Inside The Network

At The US Oncology Network, innovation is more than a concept—it’s a shared commitment to continuous improvement in cancer care. Through this blog series, we highlight the technology, programs, and efficiencies driving meaningful progress across The Network. From clinical advancements to operational enhancements, these stories reflect how we’re working together to elevate care, empower providers, and improve outcomes for patients—one innovation at a time.

[1]Court LE, Aggarwal A, Jhingran A, et al. Artificial Intelligence–Based Radiotherapy Contouring and Planning to Improve Global Access to Cancer Care. JCO Global Oncology. 2024;10:e2300376. doi:10.1200/GO.23.00376

In our unwavering commitment to transform cancer care, The US Oncology Network (The Network) and Ontada, a McKesson business, have joined forces to support the Cancer Moonshot initiative. This collaborative effort aims to revolutionize oncology treatment by leveraging cutting-edge technology and enhancing interoperability through the advanced framework of the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM).

The Cancer Moonshot Initiative: A Vision for the Future

The Cancer Moonshot initiative, reinvigorated in 2022, aspires to reduce cancer death rates by 50% over the next 25 years. It emphasizes the importance of having seamless access to critical medical information to improve patient outcomes. This initiative aims to support patients and caregivers by creating a reliable healthcare system, particularly through the standardization and interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs).

Pioneering Innovation in Oncology

Ontada has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to advance oncology data standards. Early on, Ontada made the strategic decision to adopt mCODE (Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements), an HL7 industry standard designed to compile a core set of structured data elements for oncology electronic health records (EHRs). The Ontada and CMMI teams have created a high-tech solution to facilitate the reporting of key clinical data elements for the EOM program. Furthermore, by utilizing standardized data bolstered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), they have achieved a more comprehensive data set that can be seamlessly delivered via FHIR-based API functionality.  This innovation supports interoperability, along with enhancing the accuracy and completeness of the data sourced from the EHR system. In turn, better access and utilization of this data leads to improved health outcomes and promotes health equity.

Pilot with Compass Oncology

In our ongoing commitment to advancing cancer care, The Network is thrilled to announce that Compass Oncology, utilizing iKnowMed as its primary EHR, will pilot Ontada’s innovative technology during the first performance period (PP1) of the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM). The Compass Oncology quality improvement team, with their extensive experience as participants in the previous Oncology Care Model (OCM) program, possess a deep knowledge of quality reporting requirements and workflows essential for meeting program criteria successfully.

The Network’s participation in this pilot underscores our dedication to driving innovation in cancer care. By working closely with Ontada, The Network is contributing to the development of tools and practices that will enhance data accuracy, improve efficiency, and promote health equity across the oncology landscape.

The Benefits for Practices and Patients

Our collaborative efforts with the Cancer Moonshot initiative and other stakeholders are set to bring numerous benefits to oncology practices and patients:

  1. Enhanced Data Accuracy and Completeness: By standardizing data elements across EHRs based on FHIR, we ensure that healthcare providers have access to accurate and comprehensive patient information, facilitating better treatment decisions.
  2. Improved Efficiency: The implementation of AI/NLP technology will streamline data capture processes, allowing healthcare providers to focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
  3. Promoting Health Equity: By ensuring that critical health information is accessible across different systems, we aim to improve care for patients in rural and underserved areas, thereby advancing health equity.
  4. Accelerated Research and Innovation: Standardized data opens new possibilities for faster research results and more effective public health interventions, driving continuous innovation in cancer care.

Our Commitment to Excellence

The Network’s dedication to the EOM program and the use of USCDI+ codes and FHIR API functionality underscores our commitment to advancing cancer care through technology. As a Qualified Clinical Data Registry-certified vendor for eight consecutive years, The Network has consistently demonstrated the ability to support and innovate within the oncology field. This year, we have also implemented Social Determinants of Health collection across 12 practices to support the EOM program.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Cancer Care

As we advance in healthcare technology innovation, we encourage the oncology community to support and engage in efforts to make health information exchange more prevalent. The dedication and involvement of the healthcare community will propel us toward a more innovative, cohesive, and patient-centered future.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Wanmei Ou, Vice President, Product Life Sciences, Ontada: "Ontada's collaboration with The Network and the Cancer Moonshot initiative is a step towards revolutionizing cancer care. Through our cutting-edge AI technology and FHIR-compliant common data model, we are not only addressing critical interoperability challenges but also promoting health equity and accelerating research in oncology."

Erin Crum, Senior Director, Quality Strategy and Innovation, The Network: "Our partnership with Ontada and the Cancer Moonshot initiative exemplifies our commitment to transforming oncology care. By leveraging advanced AI and interoperability, we are pioneering innovations that enhance data accuracy and improve patient outcomes, ultimately driving significant advancements in cancer treatment."

Scott Rushing, MD, MBA, Practice President, Compass Oncology: “Compass Oncology is excited to participate in this groundbreaking pilot with The Network and Ontada. This initiative will enhance our practice by leveraging advanced AI technology and improving data interoperability, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient cancer care."

Excellence in Cancer Care has a Network

As a national network of multi-specialty industry peers, we are dedicated to bringing innovation to local oncology care. We have the backing and resources to offer practices access to capital for expansion, innovative clinical trials through Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and the purchasing power and best-in-class contracting capabilities of Unity Group Purchasing Organization.

Join Our Network

Learn more about our commitment to enabling better cancer care through an integrated and supportive network that helps local practices maintain their independence and prosper.