October 26, 2001

Members of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare (DF/PCC)--a collaboration in adult oncology at the MGH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), BWH and affiliated community hospitals--are in the process of developing a strategic plan with a vision for becoming a cancer center of the future. The plan will set goals for DF/PCC and create a blueprint for growth.

"The strategic planning effort in oncology gives us a chance to design future cancer care combining the excellence of the MGH, BWH and Dana-Farber," says Thomas Lynch, MD, an MGH oncologist involved in the planning effort. "Since the joint venture between Dana-Farber and Partners was formed five years ago, we have made great strides toward integrating care and research across the system. This effort allows us to project compassionate and cutting-edge care across the Partners system and throughout New England."

The planning project began early this year, when a team of representatives from DF/PCC's three founding hospitals was formed to guide the effort. Comprised of physicians, nurses and administrators, the team sought input from patients in a series of focus groups. In April, nearly 100 staff members from throughout DF/PCC attended a retreat to sketch the first outlines of the strategic plan.

The April retreat identified several areas of focus for the strategic plan:

• Coordinating services between DF/PCC's Boston hospitals and its community affiliates so that care can be delivered in the most efficient, convenient way;
• Becoming a leader in genomics--screening patients for distinct patterns of gene abnormalities that help identify their precise disease;
• Providing lifelong care for patients, including end-of-life care, and creating a seamless system for transferring into, out of and across the DF/PCC system;
• Becoming financially self-sustaining by seeking adequate insurance reimbursement for outpatient care and services, such as advanced screening and counseling;
• Supporting all programs with state-of-the-art computer technology;
• Becoming the partner of choice for community physicians and companies developing new therapies;
• Performing clinical trials sought by patients around the world and offering wide access to underserved groups; and
• Transforming laboratory discoveries into new treatments and attracting talented scientists from around the world.

"For the first time, we are establishing information systems that will allow us to know the scope and the successes of our patient care system, as well as our opportunities for growth," says Bruce Chabner, MD, clinical director of the MGH Cancer Center. "Some major decisions lie ahead. To make them intelligently, we need this information."

The current planning activity is the first of two phases. It involves staff from MGH, DFCI and BWH, while the second phase will bring in representatives from the affiliated community hospitals. Phase 2 is expected to begin next year.

The project is part of a larger initiative in which Partners HealthCare System is conducting long-range planning for several of its service lines, including cardiology, pediatrics and orthopaedics.