Measuring Patient Care
Effectiveness
How effective are our methods of treatment and care?
Effectiveness addresses the impact of care on disease.
At Dana-Farber, we look at effectiveness from several
perspectives.
Our volume (i.e. the number of patients we care
for each year) gives us the experience to treat many rare diseases,
and to streamline and standardize the care for more common
diseases.
The number of clinical trials offers another
window on effectiveness, since advances in cancer treatment come
from these studies, and because centers that conduct many clinical
trials provide patients with access to the most up-to-date
care.
Similarly, our volume of stem cell transplants shows our experience offering this cutting-edge technology to
patients who need it. Research has shown that for complicated
procedures, more experience leads to better outcomes.
Areas we measure
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Data for adult exam visits and infusion treatment visits at
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between 2000 and 2009.
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Data for pediatric exam visits and infusion treatment visits at
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between 2001 and 2009.
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Data on open protocols and enrolled participants at
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and
Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital for 2009.
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The number of adult allogeneic and autologous transplants
completed at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center in
Fiscal Year 2009.