Advancing digital health innovation in oncology to improve the lives of cancer patients.

Abstract

e13609 Background: Oncology is renowned for leading innovation in research and in care. However, digital innovation in cancer care and research appears to be limited relative to other therapeutic areas. Methods: A multi-stakeholder roundtable, co-hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and Moffitt Cancer Center, convened experts from 35 leading organizations in life science R&D, regulators, payers, innovators, and with core representation from cancer patients and patient experts. Discussions addressed the current state of digital innovation in cancer care, root causes of digital health innovation challenges in oncology, and identifying action-oriented approaches to collaborative solutions needed to advance the safe, effective, ethical, and equitable use of digital innovations in oncology. Results: There was consensus among roundtable attendees that digital innovation lags behind in oncology relative to other therapeutic areas. Challenges identified as ‘low hanging fruit’ for digital innovation include reducing patient administrative burden, supporting care navigation, optimizing decision making in care and research, optimizing clinical pathways, and improving how we monitor both performance status and safety. Reducing financial toxicity and disparities in disease burden must be imperatives of digital innovation in oncology. Access to care and health outcomes for all patients must also be improved. Impediments to digital innovation in oncology include a proliferation of digital point solutions as opposed to system level innovations; transactional digital solutions that do not promote ongoing engagement and reengagement for the lifetime of the patient journey; lack of trust among patients and clinicians; the absence of data sharing incentives and infrastructure; and business and payer disincentives to digital transformation. Conclusions: Digital innovation frameworks can support more effective and equitable approaches to care that are accessible, scalable, and inclusive, thereby reducing the burden of cancer. To achieve this, clinical, technical, and operational best practices necessary to develop, design, and deploy high-quality digital interventions into cancer care must be established. There is no reason for the successful adoption of digital interventions in oncology to lag behind other therapeutic areas. Intentional action with urgency is required by the multi-stakeholder community through a collaborative effort to realize the full promise of digital innovation for patients and the systems that support those who care for them.