Care Pathways in Oncology: A Value-Based Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Care in Ontario and Quebec

This research looks at opportunities in Ontario and Quebec to improve care delivery for colorectal cancer patients. The authors look at the issue from a value-based health care perspective.

Document Highlights

Cancer care is typically provided across different healthcare settings (e.g., primary care, community-based care, hospital care) and by healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines. This requires a high level of coordination and integration. The Conference Board of Canada explored aspects of colorectal cancer (CRC) delivered through cancer care delivery institutions in Ontario and Quebec. Although both Ontario and Quebec have care guidelines and standard patient care pathways for CRC, in practice, CRC care delivery is not consistent across the two provinces.

Care Pathways in Oncology: A Value-Based Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Care in Ontario and Quebec looks at the issue. It finds that from a value-based health care perspective, specific opportunities exist to improve CRC care delivery—standardization of CRC care, patient-centric care, and value assessment. To assess value, care costs need to be linked to health outcomes systematically.