---
title: "Building a High-Risk Program Operating System: Driving Patient Loyalty and Advancing Precision Oncology"
description: "By leveraging CancerIQ, Advocate was able to: increase screening, improve patient loyalty, and seamlessly integrate genetic data into oncology workflows."
---

[CancerIQ News, Education, & Research ](https://blog.canceriq.com)

# [Building a High-Risk Program Operating System: Driving Patient Loyalty and Advancing Precision Oncology](https://blog.canceriq.com/advocate-2019-oncology)

 Written by [CancerIQ](https://blog.canceriq.com/author/canceriq) | Jan 30, 2025 7:32:00 PM

**How can implementing a cancer risk assessment program enhance service capacity and financial sustainability?**

## Making Risk Assessment Essential and Successful

In a discussion with Maritess Caamic, director of the Cancer Institute and Infusion Services at **Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center**, she shared insights on how their Chicago-based medical center successfully built a **profitable and high-capacity** risk assessment program in partnership with CancerIQ.

Many imaging centers and healthcare providers are asking similar questions:

- **Why prioritize risk assessment?**
- **Is it financially viable?**
- **Can it be sustained long-term?**

Here’s what we learned.

## Why is Genetic Counseling a Key Differentiator for Cancer Programs?

According to Caamic, the **first step** in launching and scaling a successful risk assessment program was recognizing that genetic assessment is an essential component of a **comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care strategy**.

To support their patients and provide **high-quality preventive care**, Advocate Illinois integrated genetic counseling into their service offerings. But would this be a **true differentiator** for the program?

Advocate thought so. Located in **Chicago**, where it competes with major academic medical centers, Advocate Illinois sought to bring **academic-level genetic services** to a **community healthcare setting**—offering a unique, **patient-centered alternative** to large institutions.

## Overcoming Challenges in Genetic Counseling Services

Before scaling their program, Advocate Illinois needed to address **operational inefficiencies** that impacted their genetic counselor’s experience and patient throughput. Their key challenges included:

- **Manual, paper-based processes** that slowed documentation
- **Three-hour-long** initial patient appointments
- **Suboptimal patient experience** and engagement
- **Delays in documentation and follow-up**

To solve these issues, Advocate **invested in risk assessment software**, streamlining workflows to improve both **staff and patient experiences**.

## Why Invest in Specialty Software for Genetic Counseling?

Genetic counseling is **not a primary revenue driver** for most cancer centers. However, Caamic recognized that in order to offer **cutting-edge care**, it was crucial to provide **state-of-the-art tools** for **risk assessment, navigation, and patient monitoring**.

By implementing risk assessment software, Advocate was able to:

- Enhance **downstream revenue** through **diagnostic testing, imaging, and preventive treatments**
- Improve **workflow efficiency**, cutting **appointment times from over three hours to just one hour**
- Increase their **annual preventive service revenue by more than $350,000**—a revenue stream that **previously didn’t exist**

## Strategic Budgeting for Genetic Risk Assessment

Since genetic programs are **relatively new** in many cancer centers, they often **aren’t accounted for in standard budgets**. To justify the investment, Advocate evaluated:

- The **time lost** due to inefficient workflows
- The **cost of building an in-house system vs. partnering with existing solutions**
- The **intrinsic and opportunity cost savings**

Through its **partnership with CancerIQ**, Advocate **increased patient capacity from 400 to 700 per year** without adding staff or purchasing costly new equipment—**aside from two tablets**.

## Why Choose CancerIQ Over Other Solutions?

When selecting a risk assessment platform, Advocate prioritized:

- **Customizable patient documentation**
- **Seamless genetic test ordering and reporting**
- **Intuitive user experience for both staff and patients**

Additionally, Advocate needed a **quick implementation** due to months of downtime after losing their genetic counselor. **CancerIQ was fully operational within a week**, with just **one day of training** and **two days of follow-up support**.

## The Value of a Strong Partnership

Beyond software capabilities, Advocate sought a partner that could **collaborate to improve patient outcomes**. With **CancerIQ**, they:

- Customized patient materials in **multiple languages**
- Leveraged **data-driven insights** to better understand **underserved populations**

## How Has the Patient Experience Evolved?

To ensure seamless adoption, Advocate Illinois equipped their clinic with **two tablets**:

- One for **patients to complete questionnaires** during check-in
- One for the **genetic counselor to use in-clinic and at health fairs**

The result? **85% of patients** now complete their assessments **before their first appointment**, with minimal staff assistance required.

## Expanding Genetic Risk Assessment Beyond Cancer Care

Advocate Illinois has seen a **positive return on investment within the first year** and is now working to:

- **Expand risk assessment into digestive health, breast imaging, and primary care**
- **Integrate genetic screening into OB/GYN, primary care, and surgery**
- **Position risk assessment as a standard part of preventive healthcare**

## The Role of EMR Integration

For Advocate, **seamless collaboration between CancerIQ and their EMR system** is essential. While full integration may be explored in the future, CancerIQ currently serves as the primary tool for:

- **Engaging patients and coordinating care**
- **Collecting and managing genetic risk data**
- **Exporting essential documentation to the EMR** for provider access

## How Software Investment Boosted Productivity & Staff Retention

Since implementing CancerIQ, Advocate has:

- **Doubled patient volume** without increasing staff
- **Reduced appointment time by two-thirds**, increasing efficiency
- **Provided their genetic counselor with career growth opportunities**, improving job satisfaction

## Learn More

Advocate Illinois showcases how **technology-driven cancer risk assessment** can drive **profitability, efficiency, and patient-centered care**.

Through its partnership with **CancerIQ**, Advocate:  
✅ **Doubled its patient volume**  
✅ **Increased preventive care revenue**  
✅ **Expanded access to genetic counseling and risk assessment**

**

**

***This post was originally published on CancerIQ's blog on Oct 18, 2019***

[View full post](https://blog.canceriq.com/advocate-2019-oncology)

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