City of Hope has established AccessHope, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to serving employers and their health care partners by providing access to City of Hope’s cancer expertise.
The institution has invested over $40 million into AccessHope, a company that partners with employers to provide their employees with cancer information and expert clinical decision support.
The company serves approximately 1.95 million members who receive cancer care through 34 employers, including 11 Fortune 500 companies, and collaborative relationships with Health Transformation Alliance and Quantum Health.
A pilot program with Blue Shield of California is also underway so community oncologists treating Blue Shield PPO members can consult directly with cancer specialists, and discuss the latest information on cancer treatments.
AccessHope has designed a suite of cancer support services including:
Accountable Precision Oncology: Accountable Precision Oncology uses a proprietary algorithm of ICD10 and Rx condition triggers to target the top 20% of cancers that are most vulnerable to care mismatches in the treatment plan, are the most complicated/complex, and will be most positively impacted with respect to outcomes and cost savings by early and effective intervention.
Expert Advisory Review: After a cancer diagnosis, patients can contact AccessHope to request a review of their medical record from an expert in their specific cancer type to evaluate the therapeutic approach. When needed, AccessHope’s expert can work with an employee’s local physician to provide input on a clinically appropriate treatment plan — with the goal of achieving optimal outcomes without the patient ever needing to travel for care.
Cancer Support Team: Experienced oncology nurses are available to speak with patients and their families. Nurses can help patients understand their specific type of cancer, prepare for their first appointment with an oncologist, and provide emotional support and direction to trusted informational materials.
Expert Evaluation: During an in-person evaluation at City of Hope, patients are paired with an oncologist or hematologist who specializes in their specific type of cancer and receive consultations with additional experts as needed (e.g., surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, supportive care practitioner or other specialists). The service is inclusive of coordination with the patient’s local doctor in continuing their ongoing care.
“We recognized several years ago the tremendous benefit to cancer patients of re-imagining how they can receive the most innovative care available as close to home as possible,” Robert Stone, City of Hope’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “The demand we have experienced from employers across the country led us to form AccessHope, which will accelerate and expand our ability to partner with like-minded employers, doctors and health care providers to transform the industry.”
