Below are general frequently asked questions about the P4 Pathways Program. FAQs specific to active Pathway initiatives can be accessed here by selecting the appropriate partnership of interest. You may also contact us with additional questions.

What is the Pathways Program?

What are the benefits of having a Pathways Program?

What is P4 Pathways?

What is the role of P4 Pathways in the Pathways Program?

What if I have a patient who needs treatment that is not on the pathways?

How does this affect new, cutting-edge treatment options?

What is the P4 Pathways Program?

P4 Pathways Programs are distinct and use a collaborative process to achieve consensus for a pathway that reflects evidence-based medicine and regional differences in how doctors treat cancer. The Pathways Program is designed to encourage high-quality, evidence-based standards of care to ensure best patient outcomes. The Pathways Program is updated on a regular basis to incorporate new and effective clinical approaches. Pathways target optimal patient outcomes by ensuring selections of the most effective medications while minimizing adverse effects. The program takes into account the need for practice variation based on unique patient circumstances. Learn More

What are the benefits of having a Pathways Program?

Practices implementing P4 Pathway Programs have historically shown less variability in treatment, optimal use of chemotherapy, better management of toxicity, optimized use of biologics, and well-defined treatment milestones. The software tools are user-friendly, have minimal impact on workload, and require no hardware investment.  Participation may afford each oncology practice the opportunity to tap into pay-for-performance financial incentives as well as the opportunity to benchmark a practice’s treatment and quality data for use in other venues.

What is P4 Pathways?

P4 Pathways is a part of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, which provides clinical, reimbursement, and distribution services to help health care providers, payers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers deliver consistent high-quality, cost-efficient care to patients with complex diseases. P4 Pathways is lead by an experienced team of oncology health care professionals who understand the daily challenges oncology practices and their patients face. Learn More

What is the role of P4 Pathways in the Pathways Program?

P4 Pathways facilitates the collaborative process of pathway development and provides the proprietary technology, tools, expertise, educational programs, and hands-on training to support implementation and reporting. P4 Pathways has an inherent goal to incrementally improve efficiencies in the system while maintaining the viability of the community practice of oncology.

What if I have a patient who needs treatment that is not on the pathways?

The treating physicians have the ultimate decision regarding treatment, and at no time should patients receive sub-standard therapy because of a Pathways Program. The program takes into account the need for practice variation based on unique patient circumstances.

How are Pathway Programs affected by new, cutting-edge treatment options?

The efficacy of available treatment options is the primary focus of P4 Pathways, followed by toxicity management. Cost only plays a part in treatment selection for therapeutically equivalent strategies. P4 Pathways follows the oncology industry and subsequent FDA approvals to keep physicians apprised of new therapies that have the potential to be added to their pathways. Clinical trials are a recognized treatment options on all pathways.