By housing all of the services that patients require under one roof, integrated care represents the gold standard in cancer treatment. Instead of making appointments at multiple offices, patients that enjoy integrated care are able to receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and advanced medical imaging in their local cancer center. When it comes to treating complex diseases like cancer, integrated care at community cancer centers is critical.
Integrated care is comprehensive and convenient for patients because it allows patients to avoid multiple unnecessary visits to new doctors, helping them to save time and money. In addition to spanning the entire continuum of care, integrated care strengthens patients’ relationships with their oncologists since it provides a single team of doctors with access to patients’ medical records. The seamless coordination of integrated care reduces the risk of miscommunication and ensures that patients are not subjected to unnecessary services.