Oncology practice managers are responsible for far more than scheduling and staffing. They help shape the patient experience, support care coordination, and ensure that patients and families have access to the resources they need throughout treatment. One often underused resource in cancer care is a service like CanCare, a nonprofit peer support organization that connects people affected by cancer with trained survivors and caregivers who can offer emotional support, practical encouragement, and hope.
For oncology practices, partnering with or referring patients to a service like CanCare can strengthen care delivery without adding burden to the clinical staff. Here’s how practice managers can make the most of it.
Oncology practice managers help shape the patient experience, support care coordination, and ensure that patients and families have access to the resources they need throughout treatment.
1. Extend Support Beyond the Exam Room
Cancer treatment affects every part of a patient’s life, including emotional well-being, family dynamics, work, and daily routines. Physicians and nurses are essential, but they often have limited time to address every psychosocial need.
A peer support service like CanCare can help fill that gap by offering:
- One-on-one emotional support
- Connections with trained survivor volunteers
- Support for caregivers and family members
- Encouragement from people who have “been there”
For practice managers, this means patients may feel more supported between appointments, which can improve satisfaction and reduce the sense of isolation that many patients experience.
2. Create a Reliable Referral Pathway
Practice managers can help establish a simple workflow so staff know when and how to refer patients to CanCare-like services. This might include:
- Adding referral information to intake packets
- Training nurses, navigators, and front desk staff on available support services
- Creating a standard script for introducing peer support resources
- Including the service in discharge instructions or survivorship materials
A clear referral process ensures patients are not left to discover these resources on their own.
3. Support Patients at Key Stress Points
Peer support services can be especially valuable at moments when patients are vulnerable, such as:
- At diagnosis
- Before starting chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery
- When transitioning to survivorship
- When facing recurrence or advanced disease
- When caregivers need support
Practice managers can work with clinical teams to identify these touchpoints and make referrals part of the standard care pathway.
4. Improve the Patient Experience
Patients often judge a practice not only by clinical outcomes but also by how supported they feel. Connecting patients with a service like CanCare can enhance the overall experience by showing that the practice cares about the whole person. This can lead to:
- Better patient satisfaction
- Stronger trust in the care team
- Improved engagement in treatment
- More positive feedback from patients and families
In a competitive healthcare environment, these intangible benefits matter.
5. Reduce the Burden on Staff
Oncology staff members are compassionate, but they also face time constraints and emotional fatigue. A peer support partner can help address needs that may otherwise fall on already stretched team members.
By referring patients to CanCare, practice managers can:
- Help staff focus on clinical priorities
- Reduce the pressure on nurses and navigators to provide all emotional support themselves
- Offer an additional resource without increasing internal staffing demands
This can be especially helpful in smaller practices or high-volume settings.
6. Integrate With Navigation and Survivorship Programs
If the practice already has patient navigation, social work, or survivorship programs, CanCare can complement those efforts. Practice managers can position the service as part of a broader support network that includes:
- Social workers
- Financial counseling
- Nutrition support
- Palliative care
- Survivorship planning
- Community-based support resources
This integrated approach helps patients receive the right kind of support at the right time.
7. Use It to Support Caregivers
Cancer affects caregivers deeply, and they often need just as much emotional support as patients do. A service like CanCare can be a valuable resource for spouses, adult children, and other family members who are struggling to cope.
Practice managers can ensure caregiver resources are included in:
- Welcome packets
- Family education materials
- Waiting room handouts
- Postvisit communication
Supporting caregivers can also indirectly improve the patient’s ability to adhere to treatment and manage daily life.
8. Educate Staff Members so They Can Confidently Recommend It
Even the best resource is ineffective if the staff does not understand it. Practice managers should make sure team members know:
- What the service offers
- Whom it is appropriate for
- How patients can access it
- Whether there are any eligibility requirements or limitations
A short in-service training or staff memo can go a long way in increasing utilization.
9. Measure Impact
If your practice uses patient satisfaction surveys or quality improvement initiatives, consider tracking whether referrals to peer support services are being used and whether patients find them helpful. Metrics might include:
- Number of referrals made
- Patient uptake
- Feedback from patients and caregivers
- Staff perceptions of reduced support burden
This can help demonstrate the value of the partnership and guide future improvements.
Conclusion
For oncology practice managers, a service like CanCare can be a practical, compassionate extension of the care team. By creating referral pathways, educating staff, and integrating peer support into the patient journey, practices can improve emotional support for patients and families while reducing strain on clinical staff.
In oncology, care is not just about treating disease—it’s about supporting people through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. Resources like CanCare help practices do exactly that.