Healthcare Reform: Better Care at Lower Cost
ITA Partners CEO & President Eduardo Beruff speaks about healthcare reform and the need to address a "systemic foundational crisis within the very delivery of care." His remarks address variable quality in treatment, ineffective management of chronic illness, and the lack of 21st century information technology. February 26, 2010
Speech available here as a download
Putting evidence into practice — pain management in adult cancer patients
Lisa Aiello-Laws, RN, MSN, AOCNS®, APNG, APN-C, is a knowledge base manager at ITA Partners, responsible for maintaining ITA's electronic library of 700+ evidence-based cancer treatment protocols. The library systematically evaluates prescribed therapies against evidence-based medicine to ensure patients receive quality care from the start. Ms. Aiello-Laws was the lead author and team leader for “Putting Evidence Into Practice — What are the Pharmacologic Interventions for Nociceptive and Neuropathic Cancer Pain in Adults?” The Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing article followed a project coordinated by the Oncology Nursing Society. It addresses the fact that cancer pain continues to be under-treated in adults, despite substantial research on pain management. It describes various pain management treatments and the positive impact of nursing interventions. November, 2009
Abstract available here as a download
Cancer doctors urged to discuss treatment costs with patients
A new guidance statement from the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) urges oncologists to discuss potential financial costs of care with their patients. The ASCO task force was headed by Dr. Lowell Schnipper, Chief of Hematology/Oncology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and a member of ITA Partner's Medical Advisory Board. This article, in the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Bulletin, discusses the implications of cancer costs, which are increasing about 15 percent annually. July 14, 2009
Full article available here as a download
What health plans don’t know hurts them, their members
ITA Chief Medical Officer William A. Flood, MD, describes how a significant portion of health care dollars covertreatment that is outdated, less than effective, or inadequately delivered. He shows how physicians and insurers struggle to stay abreast of the thousands of clinical trials annually that can determine new standards in care. Second Quarter, 2008
Full article available here as a download
Developments in cancer treatment standards
ITA Chief Medical Officer William A. Flood, MD, summarizes key research discussed at the June 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Highlights include new agents in post-operative breast and colon cancer therapies and treatment of advanced lung cancers. Third Quarter, 2007
Full article available here as a download
Managing complex and increasingly expensive cancer claims
ITA’s founding CEO, Eduardo Beruff, writes about how advances in treatment and technology mean more success in the fight against cancer … and an even greater need for a coordinated effort among patients, physicians and insurers. Summer 2007
Full article available here as a download