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A method for analyzing the business case for provider participation in the National Cancer Institute's Community Clinical Oncology Program and similar federally funded, provider‐based research networks
Author(s) -
Reiter Kristin L.,
Song Paula H.,
Minasian Lori,
Good Marjorie,
Weiner Bryan J.,
McAlearney Ann Scheck
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.27375
Subject(s) - revenue , business case , business , return on investment , medicine , business model , marketing , public relations , finance , process management , economics , production (economics) , political science , macroeconomics
BACKGROUND: The Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) plays an essential role in the efforts of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to increase enrollment in clinical trials. Currently, there is little practical guidance in the literature to assist provider organizations in analyzing the return on investment (ROI), or business case, for establishing and operating a provider‐based research network (PBRN) such as the CCOP. In this article, the authors present a conceptual model of the business case for PBRN participation, a spreadsheet‐based tool and advice for evaluating the business case for provider participation in a CCOP organization. METHODS: A comparative, case‐study approach was used to identify key components of the business case for hospitals attempting to support a CCOP research infrastructure. Semistructured interviews were conducted with providers and administrators. Key themes were identified and used to develop the financial analysis tool. RESULTS: Key components of the business case included CCOP start‐up costs, direct revenue from the NCI CCOP grant, direct expenses required to maintain the CCOP research infrastructure, and incidental benefits, most notably downstream revenues from CCOP patients. The authors recognized the value of incidental benefits as an important contributor to the business case for CCOP participation; however, currently, this component is not calculated. CONCLUSIONS: The current results indicated that providing a method for documenting the business case for CCOP or other PBRN involvement will contribute to the long‐term sustainability and expansion of these programs by improving providers' understanding of the financial implications of participation. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.