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Harris Corporation is collaborating with Via Oncology to enhance Via Oncology's unique, Web-based decision support system that helps physicians determine the best treatment plan for cancer patients.

The system is designed to ensure quality and reduce variability in the delivery of cancer care by leveraging a data-driven "decision tree" that oncologists can readily use in their day-to-day treatment of patients.

Under a three-month, quick-react contract from Via Oncology, Harris is providing the Content Authoring Module (CAM) for the Via Oncology Pathways tool.  The new module is expected to dramatically reduce the time required to update the massive decision tree with new clinical content — from five days to less than a day.

"The Via Oncology Pathways system enables equitable access to high-quality oncology care for patients seeking timely and effective cancer treatment," said Jim Traficant, vice president of Harris  Healthcare Solutions.  "The addition of the Harris CAM makes it easier for Via Oncology to quickly update recommended treatment information and patient education materials to keep pace with the rapid changes in evidence-based medicine."

UPMC is an $8 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading, nonprofit health systems in the United States.  Academic and community oncologists within the medical center developed Via Oncology Pathways to proactively address quality and cost containment in oncology care.  The Via Oncology model emphasizes development of Pathways by expert panels of disease-specific academic and community oncologists, who establish a single, best treatment for each state and stage of disease — based upon a hierarchy of effectiveness, toxicity and cost.

"We've been very impressed with Harris and its ability to develop creative solutions to allow the Via Oncology Pathways to keep pace on almost a real-time basis with the ever-changing cancer care landscape," said Kathy Lokay, President of Via Oncology.

Source: Harris Corporation