the Value of Community Oncology

The Four Pillars of Community Oncology Care

The focus of community oncology is built on four core values: convenience, personalized care, high quality and affordability.

Convenience: Accessing Care Locally

Because cancer treatment can last months or even years, having care close to home can make a big difference. It reduces the stress of long commutes, helps patients keep up with daily routines, work and family responsibilities, and lowers costs for travel and lodging. Being near loved ones and familiar surroundings also provides essential emotional support which can improve overall well-being.

Personalized Care: Tailored to Each Patient

Community oncology practices offer a welcoming, comfortable environment where patients receive care from a dedicated team that gets to know them throughout their cancer journey. This coordinated approach helps ensure treatments are carefully managed, side effects are addressed promptly, and communication remains consistent among the patient’s care team, including their primary care physician. After active treatment ends, patients often continue follow-up care with the same oncology team, supporting continuity and long-term health.

In hospital-based settings, patients may interact with a larger number of providers, including different physicians, nurses and technicians, throughout their care. Community oncology practices can offer a more personalized experience while also providing, or connecting patients with, important supportive services such as mental health counseling, nutrition guidance, rehabilitation and physical activity resources. These services address the whole person—not just the cancer diagnosis—and play a vital role in quality of life during and after treatment.

High Quality: Evidence-Based Treatment

Community oncology practices are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based cancer care that meets rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and patient outcomes. Many practices, including Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), follow the Quality & Value Standards established by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), which promote consistent best practices across all aspects of cancer care.

These standards encourage practices to follow nationally recognized treatment guidelines, provide access to clinical trials and second opinions when appropriate, coordinate care through integrated, team-based models and continuously monitor quality measures, patient safety and patient experience.

As a result, patients receiving care in community oncology settings have access to today’s most advanced cancer treatments, including immunotherapies, targeted therapies and other emerging therapies.

Community oncology practices also play a significant role in bringing research opportunities closer to patients’ homes. According to COA, the majority of newly approved cancer therapies in recent years have been studied in community oncology practices, helping ensure that innovative treatments can reach a broader patient population.

Affordability: How Much Does Cancer Treatment Cost?

Studies show that cancer care delivered in community oncology settings is often associated with lower overall costs compared with hospital-based care. Community oncology practices can provide high-value care while helping reduce financial barriers for patients by offering treatment in a setting with lower overhead and fewer facility-related expenses.

For example, a large matched-claims analysis published in the Journal of Oncology Practice found that average monthly cancer care costs were lower for patients treated in community oncology practices compared with hospital-based outpatient clinics—$12,548 per patient per month versus $20,060, respectively. The study included patients with breast, colorectal, and lung cancers and found that care delivered in the community setting was associated with lower overall costs while maintaining access to physician-directed cancer treatment.¹

One factor contributing to cost differences is how cancer care is delivered and reimbursed. Community oncology practices often operate with lower facility overhead and may purchase medications through group purchasing arrangements, while hospital-based outpatient departments frequently include additional facility fees and higher operating costs. These differences can contribute to higher overall treatment expenses in hospital settings.²

Research examining specific treatments has found similar trends. A study of immune-oncology therapies found that average monthly treatment costs were lower in community oncology practices compared with hospital-based clinics—$22,685 versus $26,343 per patient, respectively.³

Together, these findings highlight the role community oncology practices play in providing access to advanced cancer treatments while helping make care more affordable.