Community Counts Launches: Physician-led Movement Focuses on Patient Choice and Value of Community Oncology - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Community Counts Launches: Physician-led Movement Focuses on Patient Choice and Value of Community Oncology

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SOURCE: AmerisourceBergen

Community-Based Oncologists In ION Solutions Network Leading Efforts to Demonstrate Importance in Healthcare Delivery

Valley Forge, PA (PRWEB) January 18, 2013

Community Counts, a physician-led movement focused on highlighting the value of community oncology will launch in Philadelphia on Tuesday, January 22nd.

Sponsored by ION Solutions—a physician services network for community oncologists and part of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group—Community Counts unites oncology practices around the idea of giving physicians a choice in where they deliver care and giving patients a choice in where they receive it.

“Nearly 84% of all cancer patients are treated in community cancer settings. Across the country, those community-based practices are dealing with a number of challenges that impact patient access to care and potentially, clinical outcomes,” said Mark Johnson, President of ION Solutions. “Community Counts seeks to address those issues by giving practices the tools they need to remain viable and the unified voice they need to make their value known.”

By reaching out to legislators, policymakers and other key industry decision-makers with validated data of community oncology’s importance in healthcare delivery, oncologists hope to take greater ownership in their future. Community Counts will help them to:

•      Understand how market forces are impacting their practices
•      Communicate the value of treatment within the patients’ communities
•      Raise awareness of how changes in reimbursement rates could negatively affect patient access to care

Four regional events will kick-off Community Counts and begin mobilizing community oncologists toward these objectives. The events will be held in the following cities:

•     Philadelphia – January 22
•     Phoenix – February 6
•     Chicago – February 11
•     Atlanta – February 13

As participants in the campaign, practices will receive data that shows measurable cost advantages for cancer care delivered in the community setting. Practices will also receive messages that oncologists can deliver to their legislators about keeping community practices viable and giving patients a choice in their care.

For more information, visit http://www.OurCommunityCounts.org.

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About ION Solutions
Community-based oncologists rely on ION Solutions, a business of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group, for the resources, expertise and technologies they need to improve clinical and operational management. Pharmaceutical manufacturers partner with ION Solutions for launching new products and driving growth with existing products. Managed care companies work with ION Solutions to develop innovative programs that can reduce overall costs and variability of care among community oncology practices. For more information on ION Solutions, visit http://www.iononline.com

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebCommunityCounts/2013/prweb10336009.htm