The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) has launched the Institute for Clinical Immuno-Oncology (ICLIO), a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed to facilitate the rapid adoption of immuno-oncology in the community cancer setting.
To help with the rapid uptake of immuno-oncology at the community level, the ACCC developed ICLIO as the premier source for immuno-oncology implementation resources. ICLIO enables medical professionals to offer their patients cutting-edge cancer care by educating them on the best practices for immuno-oncology integration into all aspects of care: clinical care, deciphering reimbursement, insurance, social work, and supporting patient access to emerging treatment options.
“Immuno-oncology is becoming increasingly integral to cancer treatment, and education on its adoption in clinical practice is a critical need for providers and patients,” said Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, FACP, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, and Chair of ICLIO. “ICLIO resources will help guide multidisciplinary cancer teams through the practical application of immunotherapy to provide the best care possible for cancer patients.”
Five Domains
ICLIO educational tools focus on five primary domains: clinical optimization, coverage and reimbursement, management best practices, patient access and advocacy, and training and development. ICLIO is open to all providers through ACCC, whose membership boasts more than 2,000 cancer programs and 20,000 providers nationwide. It is estimated that more than 60% of all cancer patients in the United States are treated by a health-care provider in the ACCC network.
“ACCC is committed to being a leader in cancer care education by providing the most up-to-date and innovative cancer treatment resources and information to our members,” said ACCC President Steven L. D’Amato, BSPharm, BCOP. “We recognize the critical need for offering immunotherapy in community cancer centers and established ICLIO to empower cancer care providers to address the dynamic intricacies of immuno-oncology real-world treatment and delivery.”
The ICLIO website is now live at accc-iclio.org, offering a wealth of resources. ICLIO will host its First Annual National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 2, 2015, to explore the challenges and opportunities within the emerging clinical and operational applications of cancer immunotherapy.
An Advisory Committee overseeing the planning and development of ICLIO is chaired by Dr. Schwartzberg and will comprise ACCC members and other immuno-oncology leaders.
Bristol-Myers Squibb provided ACCC with a charitable contribution to develop the comprehensive ICLIO program. ■
