Attendees gained valuable insight into how to thrive in the changing oncology landscape
IRVING, Texas, Oct. 21, 2019 — More than 200 physicians and practice staff from community-based oncology practices across the country gathered earlier this month in Austin, TX, to attend the 2019 Onmark Oncology Practice Summit. The Summit is an annual program offered by McKesson to help practices develop strategies and tactics that enable them to run more efficiently in the challenging value-based landscape. Through a series of lectures, panel discussions and interactive exercises, practices gained experience developing and implementing plans to strengthen their critical operations, helping to ensure practice success while keeping patient care the number one priority.
“To succeed in today’s challenging environment, practices must undergo a major transformation to adapt to new ways of delivering care,” noted Pete Perron, president of Provider Solutions at McKesson. “The Onmark Oncology Practice Summit focused on helping practices successfully navigate these challenges by providing strategies and resources to improve efficiencies and core operations, enabling practices to enhance value-based care delivery and expand services for growth.”
This year’s Summit agenda featured a wealth of topics surrounding emerging healthcare trends, examples of successful practice transformations, and resources to help community-based oncology practices succeed in an increasingly competitive, ever-changing environment. Key activities during the Summit included:
- Presentations from experts who shared their point of view on new regulations and major trends affecting oncology
- Breakout sessions focused on strategic planning, employee engagement and leading through change
- Opportunities to collaborate and network with peers as well as McKesson’s leadership team and subject matter experts
- Clinical workshops about groundbreaking treatments and methods to enhance patient care
Oncologists and key practice staff participated in expert-led sessions on various topics with a unifying focus on leading through change. One panel included discussions on successful implementation of biosimilars—addressing the clinical, economic and operational impacts to consider as new therapies enter the market. Another panel brought together experts to help practices navigate the evolving community oncology landscape to preserve and enhance the ability to serve patients. Additionally, McKesson introduced biomarker test guidelines to support precision medicine as well as its new strategic planning services designed to help practices succeed and grow into the future.
“It’s reassuring to know that McKesson is here for practices so that we can be there for our patients,” said Jeannie G. VanderKruik, BA, RN, BSN, OCN, NE-BC, executive director of Southern Oncology Association of Practices (SOAP). “Attending the Summit is an opportunity to expand knowledge, and it focuses on the areas that are important to me and our community oncology practices, like public policy and change management. It’s great to get ideas for how to help practices understand, accept and embrace the necessary changes that inevitably need to take place in order to continue to provide outstanding care for our patients. Together, we work to keep community oncology practices viable.”
McKesson clears the path so practices can focus on patient care. McKesson’s solutions portfolio brings insights and intelligence to help practices with their biggest needs: smart, comprehensive drug management; clinical and business advisory services; oncology clinical management technology; and full-service practice management.
“We are committed to providing proven solutions and services for community oncology,” said Perron. “The Onmark Oncology Practice Summit is an important event that helps practices better understand the challenges they are facing, as well as the solutions that are available to empower practices to thrive in this environment.”
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 7th on the FORTUNE 500, is a global leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. McKesson partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, providers, pharmacies, governments and other organizations in healthcare to help provide the right medicines, medical products and healthcare services to the right patients at the right time, safely and cost-effectively. United by our ICARE shared principles, our employees work every day to innovate and deliver opportunities that make our customers and partners more successful — all for the better health of patients. McKesson has been named the “Most Admired Company” in the healthcare wholesaler category by FORTUNE, a “Best Place to Work” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and a top military-friendly company by Military Friendly. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.