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Collaborations

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    Domestic Relationships

    Dana-Farber Cancer Institute pursues various types of relationships with community providers to expand access to clinical trials, education, and programmatic support. Our ultimate goal is to build lasting relationships and improve clinical care for all patients. Dana-Farber classifies these relationships in three ways: Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative Member, Strategic Alliance, and Enhanced Collaboration.

    Dana-Farber is not responsible for the care provided at these locations.

    Cancer Care Collaborative

    The Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative includes a select group of hospitals that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence by meeting a wide range of standards and best practices in adult medical and/or radiation oncology.

    To certify a hospital's membership in the collaborative, Dana-Farber clinicians and specialists conduct an extensive and rigorous review of the hospital's oncology practices and procedures, including patient safety protocols, nursing and pharmacy practices, chemotherapy administration, and information systems. Following review of their oncology operations, Collaborative Members agree to implement key recommendations in order to meet Dana-Farber standards. As such, once an organization meets those rigorous standards, Dana-Farber endorses the Collaborative Members’ programs through use of the Dana-Farber Collaborative Mark brand endorsement process.

    The purpose of the Dana-Farber Collaborative membership is to enhance educational opportunities for member hospitals’ clinicians, enhance quality and patient-centered care, offer opportunities to consult with medical specialists at Dana-Farber in Boston, and provide expedited access to Dana-Farber for patients with complex cancers. Collaborative Members have access to a variety of services, customizable to their specific needs such as Direct Connect patient concierge, virtual consults and second opinions, research and clinical trials access, network case conferences, physician trainings, observerships, Learning at Dana-Farber, virtual lectures and symposia, nursing support and education, program development assistance, and business strategy assistance.

    Current Collaborative Members

    Enhanced Collaboration

    In some instances, it is most appropriate for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a collaborating organization to work more closely together to better align goals and enhance outcomes. As such, Dana-Farber will work with an organization to transform its cancer service via development of a Joint Operating Agreement (through joint management of an existing entity) or a Joint Venture (through creation of a new company or acquiring equity in an existing company). These relationships have all of the requirements in place of a Collaborative Member but also require Dana-Farber expertise to be continuously and actively involved in operations and clinical care. Affiliate Membership is available to organizations in an equity-based arrangement such as a Joint Venture.

    Dana-Farber clinicians and specialists conduct a thorough review of the hospital’s oncology practices and procedures, including patient safety protocols, nursing and pharmacy practices, chemotherapy administration, and information systems. Following review of their oncology operations, collaborators agree to implement key recommendations and involve Dana-Farber in a regular cadence in their oncology operations through development of joint committees. Through this process, Enhanced Collaborators gain access to Dana-Farber brand endorsement, whether the Affiliate Member or Collaborative Member mark.

    Current Enhanced Collaborations

    Strategic Alliance

    Dana-Farber’s Strategic Alliance relationships are driven by providing patients with specialized services and fostering increased clinical excellence in care delivery. A Strategic Alliance is an unbranded and customizable relationship tailored to fit the needs of the organization. Strategic Alliance services may include virtual consults and second opinions, access to our online Learning at Dana-Farber platform, physician mentorship opportunities, program development assistance, strategic planning and cancer service line growth assistance, and access to select research and clinical trials.

    Current Strategic Alliances

    Career Opportunities at Our Domestic Collaborations

    Open opportunities

    Domestic Relationships Contact Information

    For more information about our domestic relationships, please email collaborative_network@dfci.harvard.edu.

    International Relationships

    As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance of clinical care and research, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world. As part of our mission to alleviate the burden of cancer worldwide, Dana-Farber establishes strategic collaborations with international organizations to further develop in-country oncology expertise.

    As part of these strategic collaborations, international sites gain access to a wide range of services ranging from multidisciplinary clinical program development, clinician education and training, hospital operations advising, telemedicine services, research program development, Dana-Farber Pathways in Oncology, and quality and patient safety program planning. These collaboration services are provided by the same Dana-Farber oncology experts who take care of patients and lead hospital operations in Boston.

    Dana-Farber International Advisory Services

    Clinician Education (MDs, RNs, Pharmacy, etc.)

    • Live educational lectures across clinical topics
    • Symposia
    • Simulation-Based Training
    • Learning at Dana-Farber (online training platform)
    • Observerships

    Clinical Advisory

    • Support development of multidisciplinary care model
    • Dana-Farber Pathways in Oncology (via Philips)

    Clinical Program Development

    • Subspecialty Cancer Services
    • Survivorship
    • Cancer Genomics
    • Clinical Research
    • Integrative Medicine
    • Psychosocial Oncology
    • Palliative Care
    • Screening
    • Early Detection and Interception

    Telemedicine

    • Multidisciplinary virtual tumor boards with two or more clinical experts

    Patient Referrals

    • Care coordination through International Patient Center
    • Identify appropriate specialist(s) and arrange an appointment tailored to patient's unique situation
    • Support in-person or virtual appointments when appropriate

    Quality and Patient Safety

    • Provide a collaborative assessment of current nursing, pharmacy, and quality and patient safety practices
    • Assessment report with recommendations for improvement

    Hospital Operations Advising

    • Hospital and facilities design and planning
    • Hospital infrastructure and governance planning
    • Multidisciplinary care model development
    • Peer-to-peer mentoring for senior leaders
    • Senior leadership recruitment guidance
    • Clinical operations

    Current International Relationships

    International Relationships Contact Information

    Katya Losk, MPH
    Senior Director, International Strategic Initiatives
    katya_losk@dfci.harvard.edu