The U.S. cancer care workforce is facing growing supply-and-demand pressures, with workforce shortages and uneven geographic distribution creating challenges for cancer care delivery. Healthcare organizations can respond to these challenges through collaboration among oncologists, other specialists, and care teams, supported by defined workflows and organizational resources.
A physician collaboration network can provide a framework for physician collaboration and information exchange to support physician-to-physician discussions, case preparation, and defined workflows. 1104Health is an example of such a platform, helping community oncologists connect with academic oncology physicians, subspecialists, and other experts.
Scope of the Oncology Workforce Shortage
Current workforce trends point to growing pressure on cancer care staffing. Demand for cancer care is increasing as the U.S. population ages, while the oncology workforce faces supply and distribution challenges. This especially affects community practices where smaller and rural markets can face challenges attracting and retaining oncology specialists.
The oncology workforce shortage is a current rather than hypothetical issue for practice managers and doctors. When an oncologist leaves a practice, their colleagues may face increased workload demands, particularly when additional staffing capacity is limited. If workload pressures persist, remaining physicians may face additional demands that can contribute to workforce strain.
Addressing Gaps in Physician Collaboration and Support
Limited opportunities for professional connection and collaboration may be one factor that contributes to workplace strain for some oncology physicians. An oncologist working in a smaller practice may have fewer opportunities to consult with other specialists regarding uncommon or complex cases, depending on the practice’s available resources and professional connections. Depending on the practice and available resources, physicians may need to spend additional time researching a question, coordinating with another specialist, or considering whether a referral is appropriate.
A physician collaboration network can create additional opportunities for physician collaboration within fragmented care environments. Rather than replacing existing practice workflows, a collaboration network can complement them by providing structured opportunities for physician discussion, case preparation, and specialist collaboration. For instance, 1104Health connects community oncologists with subspecialists and clinical investigators through its collaboration infrastructure. Depending on the workflow, physicians may be able to incorporate relevant specialist input and trial-related information into case preparation without making the discussion itself a substitute for established referral or consultation processes.
A structured collaboration workflow can help organize physician communication and case-related information within an established process. Access to physician collaboration can provide an additional setting for discussing difficult or unusual cases with colleagues as part of case preparation.
How Can Oncologist Burnout Affect Physician Retention?
Oncologist burnout can involve emotional and professional demands associated with caring for patients with serious or life-limiting illnesses, along with clinical and administrative responsibilities. Oncology physicians may experience the combined demands of difficult clinical conversations, documentation, authorizations, and other responsibilities that can contribute to workplace strain.
Burnout can be associated with changes in physicians’ work plans, including reductions in clinical hours or consideration of leaving a current practice. Physician departures can place additional workload demands on remaining colleagues, particularly in practices already facing staffing pressures. Structured networks can give physicians additional opportunities to discuss complex questions with colleagues, potentially providing a collaborative setting for case preparation and professional communication.
Explore how 1104Health supports oncology collaboration, case preparation, and care coordination across participating practices.
What Are the Current Challenges with Cancer Care Staffing?
The issue of recruitment goes hand-in-hand with that of retention. Retaining oncologists can depend on factors such as workplace support, manageable caseloads, and opportunities for professional development. Oncologists, like many other specialists, are not the only ones facing staffing challenges in cancer care. Nurse navigators, infusion staff, and administrative personnel may also face staffing and workload pressures.
If a practice has limited infrastructure for specialist collaboration, case discussion, or access to relevant oncology resources, supporting physician recruitment and retention may present additional challenges. A networked care model can provide community practices with additional opportunities for specialist collaboration, case discussion, and access to relevant oncology resources through an established collaboration infrastructure.
How Does Professional Development in Oncology Keep Physicians Engaged?
Cancer care continues to evolve, making ongoing professional development and access to relevant information important considerations for oncology practices. Professional development in oncology can extend beyond CME and include keeping up with relevant information and developments in oncology practice.
Network platforms can complement professional development by providing physicians with opportunities to exchange information and perspectives within existing collaboration workflows.
Supporting Physician Time in Collaborative Models
Physician collaboration can involve professional time that may require organizational support and defined workflows. Reviewing a complex case and participating in defined collaboration activities require professional time and may involve established organizational workflows.
In 1104Health’s model, defined non-clinical professional time associated with eligible collaboration activities can be supported through a structured compensation approach, according to the applicable program structure.
Nurse Navigators and Extended Care Teams Need Support
Physicians are not the only members of the cancer care workforce affected by staffing and workload pressures. Nurse navigators, infusion nurses, and care coordinators may manage referral-related information, eligibility-related tasks, and other coordination responsibilities depending on their roles and organizational workflows.
A collaboration network can provide a structured setting for organizing relevant information and communication within defined workflows. This type of workflow may help organize information-gathering, information sharing, and coordination within the broader care-coordination process.
Considering Workforce Sustainability and Patient Care
Physician workforce sustainability is an important consideration for oncology practices and the broader care environment. Limited time for case review may make it more challenging for physicians to explore relevant clinical questions, specialist perspectives, or available oncology resources.
A practice that incorporates collaboration may use the resulting workflows to support communication, case preparation, care coordination, and continuity across participating care settings. When physicians have appropriate time for case review, structured collaboration can provide an opportunity to consider relevant questions and specialist perspectives.
Supporting a Sustainable Oncology Physician Workforce
Workforce pressures remain an important consideration for oncology practices. Still, connected care models may provide additional opportunities for collaboration and professional connection within oncology practices. With access to physician collaboration, information, and care-coordination workflows, oncologists can use a more structured setting for case-related communication.
The 1104Health platform is designed to support this type of physician collaboration, connecting community and academic oncology physicians through infrastructure designed to support case preparation, physician collaboration, care coordination, and related oncology workflows. 1104Health’s model includes compensation for defined non-clinical professional time associated with eligible collaboration activities.
FAQs:
1. How can a physician network support oncology collaboration and case preparation?
Physician networks can provide oncologists with structured opportunities for consultation, case discussion, and relevant information exchange within defined workflows. A structured network can provide a defined setting for communication between participating physicians and organizations, while specific workflows may vary.
2. How can a community oncology practice use a network to support physician collaboration?
A network can provide community practices with additional opportunities for specialist collaboration, case discussion, and access to relevant oncology resources, depending on the network and participating organizations. This can provide an additional collaboration option that may complement existing specialist relationships and workflows.
3. Does participating in an Oncology Collaboration Network mean giving up control over patient treatment decisions?
An Oncology Collaboration Network can support physician collaboration while participating physicians continue to work within applicable clinical and organizational processes.
4. What factors can contribute to physician burnout in oncology?
Oncology involves patient care across serious and potentially life-limiting conditions, which can contribute to the emotional demands of the specialty. These clinical and administrative demands can contribute to workplace stress and professional well-being considerations within oncology.
5. Can a network approach directly resolve oncology staffing shortages?
A collaboration network does not directly replace needed staff or guarantee relief from workforce shortages. It can provide additional infrastructure for physician collaboration, case preparation, and communication. Any longer-term workforce effects, such as changes in retention, would depend on the practice, workforce conditions, participation, and implementation of the collaboration model.
