How Ontada Health Supports Cancer Care

Cancer is a formidable adversary, and navigating its complexities can be overwhelming for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers alike. From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, the journey demands precise information, cutting-edge therapies, and coordinated care. But how can we ensure that every patient receives the most effective, personalized care possible, especially when time is of the essence? This is where Ontada Health steps in, transforming cancer care through a powerful blend of technology, data, and deep oncology expertise.

Understanding the Landscape of Cancer Care Challenges

The fight against cancer is constantly evolving, presenting unique challenges for everyone involved. For patients, it's the emotional and physical toll, coupled with the need to make informed decisions about complex treatment options. For oncologists and healthcare providers, it's the sheer volume of new research, the need for real-time insights, and the administrative burden that can detract from patient-facing time. Life sciences companies, on the other hand, strive to accelerate drug development and ensure their innovations reach the right patients efficiently.

These challenges underscore a critical need for integrated solutions that can streamline processes, provide actionable insights, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

What is Ontada Health?

Ontada Health is an oncology technology and insights company, part of McKesson Corporation, dedicated to revolutionizing cancer care. Its core mission is to connect life sciences partners, providers, and patients by delivering precise, timely insights that can help save lives. The name "Ontada" itself is a blend of "oncology" and "data," reflecting its foundational commitment to leveraging information for better cancer treatment.

Ontada operates on the belief that by harnessing the power of real-world data and advanced technology, it can accelerate innovation and power the future of cancer care.

How Ontada Health Supports Cancer Care: Key Pillars

Ontada Health's comprehensive approach to supporting cancer care is built upon several interconnected pillars, each designed to address critical needs within the oncology ecosystem.

Data-Driven Insights and Research

At the heart of Ontada's capabilities lies its extensive access to real-world data (RWD) and its ability to generate real-world evidence (RWE). This is crucial because an estimated 85% of cancer patients receive care in community oncology settings. Ontada leverages data from The US Oncology Network, a leading community oncology network, and Onmark practices, providing unparalleled insights into treatment and testing patterns across a vast patient population.

• Comprehensive Data Sets: Ontada's data includes information from over 2.4 million patient records across more than 80 tumor types, offering a unique view into community-based cancer care.
• Real-World Research: Ontada supports extensive real-world research studies, with over 350 publications supported to date. This research helps to understand the value of cancer treatments, supports value-based care, and informs clinical development.
• Partnerships for Deeper Understanding: Ontada collaborates with organizations like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study rare cancers, helping to close knowledge gaps where traditional clinical trials are limited. They also partner with companies like Datavant to streamline access to these valuable oncology insights for life sciences companies.

Advanced Technology and Digital Solutions

Technology is a cornerstone of how Ontada Health supports cancer care, enabling efficiency and better decision-making.

• iKnowMed® Electronic Health Record (EHR): This award-winning, oncology-specific EHR streamlines clinical workflows, reduces administrative burden, and empowers more informed treatment decisions at the point of care. It integrates new guidelines and biomarkers rapidly, ensuring real-time data capture.
• Patient Portal (Ontada Health Patient Portal): Designed to enhance patient engagement, this secure portal allows patients to access their health records, view lab results, manage appointments, and securely message their care team 24/7 from various devices. This personalized approach empowers patients to be more active participants in their care journey.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration: Ontada's partnership with Microsoft Azure AI dramatically improves the speed and scale of analyzing unstructured healthcare data, accelerating the generation of high-quality real-world evidence and supporting faster drug development.

Accelerating Clinical Trials and Precision Medicine

The development of new cancer therapies relies heavily on robust clinical trials and the growing field of precision medicine. Ontada plays a vital role in both.

• Optimizing Clinical Trials: Ontada helps life sciences companies embed real-world data into clinical trial design, which can improve the diversity and representation of patient populations in studies. This ensures that new therapies are tested on groups that better reflect the real-world patient population.
• Advancing Precision Medicine: Through strategic partnerships, such as with Caris Life Sciences, Ontada integrates molecular data with clinical data from EHRs. This integration allows researchers to rapidly identify critical molecular biomarkers, accelerating the discovery and development of targeted therapies and making personalized care more precise and impactful. McKesson, Ontada's parent company, also launched the Precision Care Companion (PCC) to help practices integrate precision medicine.

Empowering Providers Through Education

Staying abreast of the latest advancements in oncology is critical for healthcare providers. Ontada addresses this through its "Ontada Learn" offerings.

• Tailored Educational Content: Ontada Learn collaborates with life sciences companies to provide oncology practitioners with tailored educational content and updates on new treatments and testing guidelines. This ensures that oncologists have access to the most current evidence and best practices, directly impacting patient care.

The Impact of Ontada Health on Patients and Providers

The combined efforts of Ontada Health translate into tangible benefits across the cancer care spectrum. For patients, it means potentially faster access to innovative, personalized treatments, improved outcomes, and a more streamlined care experience. For providers, it means less administrative burden, more informed decision-making at the point of care, and access to cutting-edge research and educational resources.

By bridging the gap between clinical practice, research, and life sciences, Ontada is helping to create a more connected and efficient oncology ecosystem, ultimately transforming the fight against cancer.

Conclusion

The journey through cancer care is complex, but the advancements brought forth by companies like Ontada Health offer a beacon of hope. By leveraging the power of extensive real-world data, integrating advanced technology, fostering crucial partnerships, and empowering healthcare providers with education, Ontada is fundamentally reshaping how Ontada Health supports cancer care. Their commitment to delivering precise insights at the exact point of need is not just about improving statistics; it's about saving lives and enhancing the quality of care for every patient.

What aspects of data-driven cancer care do you find most impactful? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of data does Ontada Health use to support cancer care?

Ontada Health primarily uses real-world data (RWD) sourced from community oncology practices, including The US Oncology Network and Onmark practices. This data encompasses patient records, treatment patterns, and outcomes from millions of patients across various cancer types.

How does Ontada Health help personalize cancer treatment?

Ontada Health advances personalized cancer treatment by integrating molecular and clinical data through partnerships (e.g., with Caris Life Sciences). This allows for the rapid identification of biomarkers and accelerates the development of targeted therapies tailored to individual patient profiles.

Can patients directly access their health information through Ontada Health?

Yes, patients can access their personal health records, view lab results, request appointments, and securely message their care team through the Ontada Health patient portal. This portal offers 24/7 access to health information from various electronic devices.

How does Ontada Health contribute to cancer research?

Ontada Health contributes significantly to cancer research by providing extensive real-world data and evidence, supporting over 350 real-world research publications. They also partner with organizations like the FDA to study rare cancers and help improve clinical trial design by incorporating real-world insights.