Mission Statement:
New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) goal is our patients best outcomes. We strive to make life better for patients with cancer and blood disorders. Our core values are commitment, quality, respect, accountability, integrity, and innovation. NECS delivers the highest quality value based care in the regions we serve. We serve all patients regardless of the ability to pay for services.
Locations
New England Cancer Specialists has locations in Brunswick, Scarborough, and Kennebunk, Maine. Our Kennebunk location was just opened in July, and was designed as a patient centered medical home. It will also have the first oncology rehabilitation and wellness program in southern Maine. NECS also provides physician services at Memorial hospital in North Conway, NH and at Stephens Memorial hospital in Norway, ME.
Practice Details
NECS has 140 employees. There are currently thirteen boarded medical oncologists and hematologists, one hospitalist, and ten Advanced Practice Providers. Three of the physicians are boarded in palliative care.
Practice certifications
NECS is QOPI certified and was awarded designation by the Commission on Cancer as an oncology medical home. NECS was one of the practices that participated in the CMMI ComeHome project.
Intro to pharmacy services staff
We support all of our sites with oral oncology medications and the support medications that go along with them. NECS’s dispensing pharmacy is located in our Scarborough office with plans to have one in our new Kennebunk office also. We offer co-pay assistance and currently employee 4 financial advocates who assist in this process. Currently our dispensing Pharmacy team is made up of Alison Bridges CphT lead pharmacy technician who has 20 plus years in the oncology field and Eric Dallara Rph Pharmacist in charge of the dispensing pharmacy.
Dispensing type
NECS has a physician dispensing program
Services Provided
NECS provides a full array of medical oncology service that includes Infusion services, physician dispensing program, survivorship, research, genetics counseling, financial advocacy, social work, palliative care, and laboratory services.
Why did you join NCODA?
NECS joined NCODA because of the need for dispensing practices to come together to develop standards and best practices in delivering oral pharmaceuticals to our oncology patients. Data collection and demonstration of quality and value are critical for oncology dispensing practices to influence payers and develop new contracting opportunities to keep physician dispensing at the forefront of patient care.
How did you become a member?
NECS learned about NCODA through its relationship with Mike Reff and Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY.
How would you like to become more involved with NCODA?
NECS hopes to assist NCODA in any way that we can. Fund raising and the development of quality standards are a couple of areas we can help.
What are some challenges you face now or will face in the future of Oncology?
The challenges we face in oncology today involve payment reform, patient access, and the ability to sustain an independent practice with decreasing revenues and competition from other systems. Being in the Come Home project and applying for the OCM model will keep us positioned for alternative payment models that are required. Our physician leadership is also involved with the ASCO payment reform initiative. Maintaining and growing our dispensing program along with the development of patient centered services and other sources of revenue will be critical for continued success.