AI in Community Oncology

With four out of five community oncologists expecting AI to play an essential role in clinical and administrative functions, The US Oncology Network (The Network), supported by McKesson’s deep expertise and resources, is leading the charge in developing AI solutions tailored for community oncology. By proactively harnessing cutting-edge AI technologies, we are advancing value-based care, reducing provider burden and improving patient outcomes. These innovations also open the door to broader collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem in community practices, benefiting key stakeholders and enabling biopharma to support research and expand access to care.

As leaders in community oncology, we are uniquely positioned to help providers accelerate research, streamline operations and expand access to care through AI. The following examples highlight how our AI programs and guiding philosophy are rooted in a commitment to advancing patient care and improving outcomes.

Real-World Examples

In collaboration with McKesson, The Network has made significant investments in adapting AI technologies to meet the unique needs of community oncology. These efforts are focused on creating operational efficiencies, reducing provider burden and burnout and enabling physicians to spend more time with their patients. These are some of the most promising applications:

• AI-powered clinical data extraction uses large language models via Ontada and Microsoft Azure OpenAI, we extract insights from over 150 million unstructured oncology documents — unlocking nearly 70% of previously inaccessible clinical data. This accelerates research, improves real-world evidence¹ and helps community oncologists make faster, better-informed decisions while reducing administrative burden.
• AI scribe technology captures and summarizes clinical encounters in real time, allowing physicians to focus fully on patient interactions rather than documentation.
• AI auto-contouring tools assist radiation oncologists in developing more precise treatment plans, improving quality and consistency while saving valuable time.

These innovations are already making a tangible impact on care delivery. By embedding AI into everyday workflows, we’re helping community oncology practices operate more efficiently and deliver more personalized, patient-centered care. In parallel, these advancements also support broader collaboration across the healthcare landscape — enabling more inclusive research, improving data quality and fostering new models of care that benefit all stakeholders.

The Network’s AI Program Is Built on a Strong Ethical Foundation

While AI holds immense promise for improving cancer care, we recognize the importance of using this technology responsibly. At The Network, we view AI not simply as a tool but as a trusted partner that can help clinicians deliver smarter, more personalized care — without compromising the human connection at the heart of oncology.

To ensure our approach remains grounded in ethics and transparency, we established The AI Council, a multidisciplinary group of care team members dedicated to evaluating and guiding the use of AI across The Network. Their mission is to explore opportunities where AI can meaningfully enhance the patient experience and support care delivery while upholding our core values of trust, equity and accountability.

Our guiding principle is clear: AI will never replace the provider. Instead, it will amplify clinical intuition, reduce administrative burden and help clinicians focus more fully on their patients. We are building a future where technology supports — not supplants — the human touch that defines community oncology.

Creating the Future of Community Care with AI

Adopting artificial intelligence in healthcare is not without its challenges — but community oncologists are embracing the opportunity because of the meaningful benefits it brings to their practices and patients. At The Network, we are proud to be at the forefront of integrating AI into community settings, with a clear focus on alleviating the administrative and operational burdens that often limit the time providers can spend with their patients.

Beyond The Network, McKesson continues to embed AI across a range of solutions that support community oncology practices. These include tools that optimize specialty therapy workflows, streamline inventory management, enhance contract negotiations and reduce administrative friction related to payer denials. Each of these innovations is designed with a singular goal: to help providers focus more time and energy on delivering high-quality, compassionate care.

Our commitment is unwavering: to harness AI and other transformative technologies in ways that empower community oncologists to focus on what matters most — caring for their patients.

¹National Institutes of Health. Incidence rates of some cancer types have risen in people under age 50. National Cancer Institute Press Office. May 8, 2025. Accessed October 2025.