Giving Compass' Take:

• Cassie Homer reports on three large oncology practices — two in Tennessee and one in New York — that will join forces to improve cancer care in rural communities.

• One key takeaway is that this is a "patient-centric" effort, trying to meet the needs of people who may not have had access to high-quality cancer care in the past. Could it be a model for other medical organizations?

• Learn how to make an impact on cancer research.

Three community oncology practices have formed OneOncology, a company with a mission to improve cancer care through patient-centric and technology-driven innovations.

OneOncology’s founding practices are Tennessee Oncology, New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, and West Cancer Center.

“All of these partners, these founders, have collected around a vision to create a patient-centric approach to the transformation of cancer care, to radically transform the ways patients experience cancer care and really begin to achieve meaningful success across the areas of cost, quality, access and patient experience,” Tracy Bahl, president and CEO of OneOncology, said during a press call.

OneOncology will unite over 225 oncology providers at more than 60 locations through the three founding practices. The goal is to incorporate additional community practices in the future.

The new company will provide capital, access to technology, purchasing services and standardization to address needs that otherwise would have fallen on the individual centers.

Read the full article about oncology partnerships in rural areas by Cassie Homer at Healio.