Inspira Health has more than two dozen active oncology trials at its cancer facilities in Mullica Hill and Vineland. All of them have one thing in common: They were started to match the needs of their patients.
Lynne McShay, the assistant vice president of the oncology service line at Inspira, said the hyperfocused approach is by design.
“Our focus is really on finding trials that suit our patients, not just finding the trials to open,” she said.
That focus is evident in a variety of ways.
McShay said Inspira currently has trials to serve a number of different cancer areas.
“There are trials for colorectal cancer, there are a few for breast cancer,” she said. “We are really looking into the subsets of disease and looking for those specific trials that are meeting the care needs of those patients.
“Through clinical trials and the adoption of new approaches to care, we’re bringing really some of the latest treatment options to the community.”
The trials go deeper than just the disease.
“Through clinical trials and the adoption of new approaches to care, we’re bringing really some of the latest treatment options to the community.” — Lynne McShay
McShay talked of a trial studying hair loss for those going through chemotherapy. Another one studied the impact of different cessation techniques (texting, calls) that can be used to help rural cancer survivors stop smoking.
Meeting the needs of the community they serve means meeting the needs of all communities.
McShay said she is proud of the fact that approximately 35% of the people enrolled in trials come from traditionally underrepresented groups. The national average is around 20%.
Achieving these numbers means Inspira is doing far more than just signing people up.
“When you think about an underserved population of patients, they often don’t have the resources or the ability to leave their community for care,” she said.
Figuring out transportation solutions can be part of the process, McShay said.
“We want to ensure that we’re the community hospital that is providing the care that’s needed for those patients,” she said.
This determination is seen in a number of metrics.
Inspira began doing clinical trials back in 1979. In the past six years, Inspira has been able to double the number of trials it participates in.
Of course, McShay is quick to point out, these aren’t just any trials.
“The focus is really defined based on the needs of the patients,” she said. “If we were focused on just opening trials and maybe not finding that subset of patients, it wouldn’t be the support needed for those patients.
“Our focus is meeting the needs of the patients.”
For information about Inspira Health, go to inspirahealthnetwork.org.
