FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 20, 2008
CONTACT:
Lindsay Emple
(571) 483-136
Lindsay.Emple@asco.org
Alexandria, Va. - The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has issued a strategic plan to address recent projections showing that demand for oncology services will outstrip supply of practicing oncologists in coming years. ASCO recommends transforming oncology care delivery through collaborative care and innovative practice models, training the next generation of oncologists to practice in a time of shortage, and gathering and assessing data to track trends in the oncology workforce.
An article that details ASCO's plan to combat the oncology workforce shortage is being published in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of Oncology Practice.
"Workforce shortages are affecting the entire medical community. Unless action is taken, we will face a crisis in the nation's ability to provide quality cancer care to patients," said Michael Goldstein, MD, Co-Chair of ASCO's Workforce Advisory Group.
"No single action will fill the likely gap between supply and demand for oncology services and care. But through its workforce strategic plan, ASCO is developing a multifaceted approach to address the likely shortages in meeting the future demand for oncology services," he added.
The strategic plan follows up on an ASCO study released in 2007 that projected a significant shortage of medical and gynecologic oncologists in the United States by 2020 due to an aging and growing population, increasing numbers of cancer survivors, and slower growth in the supply of oncologists.
One major action that ASCO, along with the Association of American Medical Colleges' Center for Workforce Studies, is undertaking to divert the projected crisis is to develop an information database that will track real-time trends in the oncology workforce. Through this database, ASCO will monitor the oncology workforce supply by gathering actual figures on the number of practicing oncologists in the United States and compare that to benchmarks established in its 2007 workforce study. The first report on this data will be issued toward the end of 2009.
The workforce strategic plan also highlights areas where improvements can be made to bolster the oncology workforce:
- While the majority of oncologists already work with non-physician practitioners such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, only half of these non-physician practitioners perform advanced activities, such as assisting with new patient consults or ordering routine chemotherapy. ASCO recommends innovative practice models to improve delivery of care, such as increased collaboration with non-physician staff and part-time practice options for oncologists near retirement or parents with young children.
- There is a limited number of oncology training positions available for those considering a career in oncology. Expanding the number of oncology training slots in residency and fellowship programs and increasing medical student and resident exposure to oncology are just two methods highlighted in ASCO's strategic plan.
- Once a patient's cancer is in remission and he or she is no longer in active treatment, the path for continuing follow up care is not clear. ASCO is examining the growing use of "survivorship clinics" to provide ongoing care for cancer survivors that optimizes integrated survivorship care. Some practices have established these clinics with non-physician practitioners to ensure that patients have access to ongoing oncology care.
"ASCO's main goal is to ensure that patients with cancer continue to have access to high quality cancer care," said Dean Bajorin, MD, Co-Chair of ASCO's Workforce Advisory Group. "There have been extraordinary developments in cancer research and care over the past several decades. That progress is at risk if we don't have the capacity to treat our patients."
For more information on ASCO's workforce initiatives, visit www.asco.org/workforce.
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The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 25,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. For ASCO information and resources, visit www.asco.org/presscenter. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.cancer.net.
