Cancer Care Close to Home – The Oncology Institute Reviewed

Why Community-Based Cancer Care Matters More Than Ever

The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation (TOI) is a network of over 70 community-based cancer clinics across five states: California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon. Founded in 2007, TOI provides value-based oncology care—advanced treatments, clinical trials, and compassionate support—in patients’ own communities. They serve a population of over 1.8 million and have treated more than 370,000 patients.

Quick Facts About The Oncology Institute:

• Founded: 2007
• Locations: 70+ clinics in CA, FL, AZ, NV, OR
• Patient Population: 1.8 million+
• Patients Served: 370,000+
• Clinicians: 100+ employed oncologists and specialists
• Team Size: 800+ healthcare professionals
• Services: Medical oncology, radiation therapy, clinical trials, infusion services, lab testing, financial counseling
• Care Model: Value-based, community-focused cancer care

Core Values:

• Unwavering Integrity
• Strive for Excellence
• Better Together
• Genuine Empathy

Unlike traditional cancer care that often requires travel to large, distant centers, TOI brings care to the community. By offering state-of-the-art treatments, cutting-edge clinical trials, and personalized support locally, they prove world-class cancer care can be accessible. Their value-based approach has driven emergency department utilization and hospitalizations down by over 50%, while saving more than $12,000 per patient enrolled in their high-value care model.

As Maria Chatzou Dunford, CEO and Co-founder of Lifebit, I’ve spent over 15 years developing platforms that open up biomedical data for precision medicine. This work supports organizations like the oncology institute in delivering faster, more personalized care. This review explores how TOI’s blend of compassion, innovation, and local access transforms cancer treatment.

The Oncology Institute’s Mission: World-Class Cancer Care, Right Where You Live

Facing a cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. The Oncology Institute was built on a vision of personal, supportive care, ensuring every patient feels seen, heard, and supported. This commitment is tangible in their clinics, where the focus is on partnering with people, not just processing patients.

Their mission is to empower and heal cancer patients through compassion, innovation, and state-of-the-art medical care.

TOI’s vision is to become the nation’s leading value-based oncology group. For patients, “value-based” care means success is measured by your well-being, not just treatments administered. It involves personalized plans based on your unique cancer, genetics, and life circumstances, with a focus on tracking real outcomes to constantly improve. This holistic approach considers the whole person, addressing physical, emotional, and financial well-being. This model directly contrasts with the traditional fee-for-service system, where providers are compensated based on the volume of services they deliver, regardless of patient outcomes. At TOI, the focus shifts to quality over quantity. Success is measured through a range of metrics, including patient-reported outcomes (PROs), reduced hospital admission rates, better management of treatment side effects, and long-term survivorship quality. This incentivizes a proactive, preventative approach to care, where the clinical team is rewarded for keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital.

Advancing Oncology Care in Your Community

Since 2007, the oncology institute has brought specialized, cutting-edge cancer care to local communities, proving that world-class oncology can be convenient. This means less time traveling to distant, complex hospitals and more time recovering at home. Patients receive highly specialized, evidence-based cancer care in their community, scheduling treatments around their lives.

This community-based approach delivers state-of-the-art medical care through innovation and patient empowerment. TOI brings sophisticated treatments and clinical trials to local clinics, combining cutting-edge science with respect for the individual. The model works: by keeping care local, TOI has reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations by more than 50% and saved over $12,000 per patient in their high-value care program.

Core Values That Drive Every Patient Interaction

At the oncology institute, four core principles guide every interaction and treatment decision.

Unwavering Integrity ensures transparency about your diagnosis, treatment options, and costs. This means having honest conversations about prognosis, the potential benefits and risks of each treatment, and ensuring that billing is clear and understandable. This trust is the foundation of their care model.

Strive for Excellence drives TOI’s commitment to the forefront of cancer treatment. Their team of over 100 clinicians continually seeks out the latest research and adopts proven innovations, refining approaches based on real patient outcomes. This involves a culture of continuous learning, where clinicians actively participate in medical conferences, publish research, and collaborate on complex cases to ensure every patient benefits from the collective wisdom of the entire organization. This dedication is supported by sophisticated data analysis, which you can learn more about in their approach to Patient Outcomes Oncology Data Analysis.

Better Together emphasizes collaboration. Your oncologist works with a team of specialists, counselors, and your primary doctor to coordinate every aspect of your care, ensuring a comprehensive approach. This collaborative ecosystem includes not just medical staff but also nurse navigators, social workers, and financial counselors, all communicating seamlessly to provide a safety net of support around the patient and their family.

Genuine Empathy recognizes the person behind the diagnosis. This translates into kindness, respect, and compassion in every interaction. It’s about remembering the human side of medicine—taking an extra moment to listen, offering a comforting presence during a difficult conversation, and celebrating milestones with patients.

These values are built into practical systems. Understanding your Patient’s Rights & Responsibilities ensures respectful care. Starting your journey is simple with the New Patient Form. Behind the scenes, rigorous Patient Outcomes Oncology Data Analysis ensures compassionate care is also smart, evidence-based care.

Full-Spectrum Cancer Treatments and Support—All Under One Roof

Coordinating cancer care—with its many appointments and specialists—is exhausting. Patients often travel between different facilities for consultations, lab work, and treatments.

The Oncology Institute simplifies this by offering one-stop destinations for cancer care. Their clinics integrate medical treatments, support services, and administrative help under one roof. This creates continuity and seamless communication within your care team. TOI provides evidence-based care for every stage, from diagnosis to survivorship. This holistic approach addresses the financial, emotional, and family impact of cancer, not just the physical disease.

Advanced Medical and Radiation Oncology Services

TOI’s core is its sophisticated medical and radiation oncology expertise. Specialized clinicians bring the latest cancer-fighting tools to the community, treating solid tumors and complex blood disorders.

Beyond traditional chemotherapy, TOI’s oncologists use advanced precision medicines, including:

• Immunotherapies: These treatments harness the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. This includes checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors) that release the natural brakes on immune cells, allowing them to recognize and attack cancer more effectively.
• Targeted Therapeutics: Prescribed based on the specific molecular blueprint of a patient’s tumor, these drugs focus on specific cancer-driving genetic mutations. Examples include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or PARP inhibitors, which are identified through advanced genomic testing and can lead to better outcomes with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy.

For patients with blood cancers, TOI’s hematology specialists treat conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma with the latest protocols. When radiation is needed, TOI’s radiation oncology teams use advanced techniques like Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), which deliver highly precise doses of radiation to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy organs.

The range of cancers treated includes: breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers; melanoma; leukemias and lymphomas; multiple myeloma; gastrointestinal cancers; head and neck cancers; gynecologic cancers; brain tumors; and numerous benign blood disorders.

This is all supported by Oncology Data Analytics that help clinicians track treatment effectiveness and refine care protocols.

Comprehensive Patient Support from Diagnosis to Survivorship

Beyond medical treatment, the oncology institute provides a robust infrastructure of practical and emotional support to make the cancer journey more manageable. This integrated support is delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team that goes beyond the oncologist.

Clinical and Logistical Support:

• In-house lab testing and outpatient blood transfusions are available at the clinic, improving convenience and eliminating the need for separate appointments elsewhere.
• An in-house dispensary allows patients to pick up oral cancer medications and other supportive drugs on-site. The team also offers prescription management support, helping with complex schedules and monitoring for side effects, a process improved by technologies like those described in the AI for Pharmacovigilance: Ultimate Guide.

Psychosocial and Navigational Support:

• Nurse Navigators and Social Workers: Dedicated nurse navigators act as a primary point of contact, helping patients and their families understand complex treatment schedules, manage side effects, and communicate with the care team. Social workers provide crucial psychosocial support, connecting patients with community resources, support groups, and mental health services to address the emotional and logistical challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
• Financial Counseling: Cancer treatment can be financially devastating. TOI’s dedicated financial counselors are experts in navigating healthcare costs. They work proactively to secure prior authorizations, identify grants from foundations like the Patient Advocate Foundation or the HealthWell Foundation, and enroll eligible patients in manufacturer co-pay assistance programs. This essential support reduces the stress and financial toxicity that can impact treatment outcomes.
• End-of-Life Counseling: For patients with advanced disease, TOI provides compassionate end-of-life counseling and palliative care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

TOI also streamlines administrative tasks with tools for Online Bill Pay and to Submit Medical Records digitally.

Over 70 TOI Locations: Bringing World-Class Cancer Care to Your Community

Long-distance travel for cancer treatment is a significant burden. The Oncology Institute addresses this with a network of over 70 clinic locations across five states, making advanced, specialized cancer care available locally.

Since 2007, TOI has grown to serve a population of over 1.8 million with a team of 100+ clinicians and 800+ healthcare professionals. They have treated over 370,000 patients, all of whom benefited from receiving world-class care without the added burden of long-distance travel.

Nationwide Reach, Neighborhood Feel

TOI’s strength lies in its community-centered approach at each location. Our work in healthcare data confirms the importance of this local connection for patient outcomes. TOI clinics are designed to be welcoming and familiar, not large and impersonal.

California is home to TOI’s largest concentration of clinics, from Alhambra to Whittier. For example, the Burbank clinic is easily accessible—you can Get Directions to the Burbank Clinic.

In Florida, TOI has clinics in Brandon, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Hollywood, Lakeland, Miramar, North Miami Beach, Plant City, Plantation, South Miami, and Tampa-Habana.

Arizona patients can find TOI clinics in East Tucson, Green Valley, Oro Valley, and West Tucson. In Nevada, clinics serve Las Vegas and Henderson. Oregon has locations in Portland and Salem.

This strategic placement means a TOI location is likely within a reasonable distance for residents of these five states.

How to Start Your Care Journey with TOI

TOI has streamlined its new patient process to be as simple and stress-free as possible.

The first step is to Request an Appointment online or call your nearest clinic. Before your first visit, you’ll complete the New Patient Form and Submit Medical Records from previous providers.

Once established, the patient portal becomes your hub for managing care. As our research on Clinical Trial Recruitment: Digital Results shows, technology can break down barriers to innovative treatments. TOI’s use of these tools reflects a commitment to care that is both high-tech and high-touch: sophisticated yet simple to access.

Innovation in Action: Clinical Trials and Technology at The Oncology Institute

Patients facing cancer want every available tool used in their care. The Oncology Institute demonstrates its commitment to innovation by bringing clinical trials into local communities and using technology to improve outcomes and lower costs.

This innovation is grounded in measurable results. TOI’s value-based care model has cut emergency department visits and hospitalizations by more than 50% and saved over $12,000 per patient in its high-value care program. These figures represent more time at home and more effective care for patients, demonstrating the power of data-driven innovation.

Expanding Access to Clinical Trials in Your Community

Clinical trials are often perceived as inaccessible, requiring travel to major university hospitals. The Oncology Institute is changing this narrative by democratizing access to research.

TOI brings clinical trials directly to its community clinics, allowing patients to access tomorrow’s treatments without leaving their hometown. Participants gain access to cutting-edge options while contributing to vital research. This community-based model removes barriers like long-distance travel and navigating unfamiliar hospital systems. Instead, patients work with their trusted local care team in a familiar setting. TOI offers access to a spectrum of clinical trials, including Phase II trials that evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment and Phase III trials that compare a new treatment to the current standard of care. They also participate in observational studies and registry trials that gather real-world data on treatment patterns and outcomes.

TOI partners with organizations like Helios Clinical Research to expand trial availability, making research a routine part of care. Research areas often focus on novel immunotherapies, targeted agents for cancers with specific genetic markers, and new combination therapies designed to overcome treatment resistance. By embedding research within the community setting, TOI helps create a more diverse and representative participant pool, leading to findings that are more applicable to the general patient population. As we at Lifebit have seen, Real-World Data for Clinical Evidence Generation in Oncology is powerful for understanding what works in diverse populations. For more information, the National Cancer Institute provides comprehensive information on clinical trials.

How TOI Uses Technology to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs

The Oncology Institute uses digital tools thoughtfully to empower patients, support care teams, and deliver better results more efficiently.

Patient Empowerment Tools: Their patient portal puts control in patients’ hands. You can check your treatment schedule, review lab results, message your care team, and manage appointments from home. This self-service hub reduces administrative friction and empowers patients to be active participants in their care, providing secure, 24/7 access to personal health information. TOI also accepts digital therapeutics for mental health, recognizing that cancer affects the whole person. These evidence-based tools provide psychological support that complements medical treatment.

Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: TOI leverages telehealth to provide convenient follow-up consultations, symptom management check-ins, and supportive care services, saving patients the time and energy of an in-person visit. Furthermore, they are increasingly exploring remote patient monitoring (RPM) technologies. Using wearables or mobile apps, patients can report symptoms and vital signs from home, allowing the clinical team to intervene proactively at the earliest sign of a complication, further contributing to the reduction in emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Data-Driven Care Delivery: Behind the scenes, data analytics drives TOI’s cost savings and improved outcomes. By analyzing clinical and operational data, they optimize resource use and implement strategies that reduce costs without compromising care quality. This data-driven approach extends to predictive analytics. By analyzing aggregated, de-identified patient data, TOI can identify patterns and risk factors, allowing them to predict which patients are at higher risk for adverse events and implement preventative strategies. This proactive care management is a cornerstone of their value-based model.

The future of cancer treatment is personalized. Precision Medicine is changing oncology, and TOI’s commitment to evidence-based care positions them at the forefront. Our work in AI for Precision Medicine focuses on helping clinicians identify the most effective therapies for each patient based on their molecular profile.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Oncology Institute

Here are answers to common questions about the oncology institute.

What types of cancer does The Oncology Institute treat?

The Oncology Institute treats nearly every type of cancer and blood disorder. Its team of over 100 clinicians, specializing in medical oncology, hematology, and radiation oncology, develops personalized, evidence-based care plans for each patient.

Whether you’re dealing with common cancers like breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, or prostate cancer, or facing complex blood disorders like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, TOI’s clinicians have the expertise. They also treat rarer cancers and benign blood conditions.

The focus is always on precision, using the latest research and Patient Outcomes Oncology Data Analysis to guide treatment decisions.

How many locations does TOI have?

The Oncology Institute operates over 70 clinic locations across five states: California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon.

This network eliminates the burden of travel, allowing patients to receive advanced treatments, participate in clinical trials, and access comprehensive support services close to home.

How do I become a new patient at TOI?

Starting your care journey with the oncology institute is straightforward. You can fill out the New Patient Form online or call your nearest clinic to Request an Appointment.

The staff will guide you through gathering your medical history and scheduling your first consultation. You can also Submit Medical Records online to help your new care team prepare. Once in the system, you’ll gain access to the patient portal to manage your care.

What insurance plans does The Oncology Institute accept?

The Oncology Institute works with a wide range of insurance providers, including most major HMOs, PPOs, and Medicare plans. As a value-based care provider, they have established partnerships with numerous health plans focused on improving quality and managing costs. Because coverage can vary by state and specific plan, the best first step is to contact the TOI clinic nearest you. Their dedicated financial counselors and intake specialists can verify your insurance benefits and provide a clear estimate of any potential out-of-pocket costs before you begin treatment.

What is a “value-based” care model?

A value-based care model is an approach to healthcare where providers are compensated based on patient health outcomes, rather than the sheer volume of services they provide (the traditional “fee-for-service” model). At The Oncology Institute, this means success is measured by factors like keeping patients out of the hospital, effectively managing treatment side effects, improving quality of life, and achieving positive long-term clinical outcomes. This model aligns the goals of the provider with the goals of the patient and their insurer: to deliver the highest quality, most efficient care possible. It encourages proactive, coordinated, and holistic treatment that focuses on the patient’s overall well-being.

Conclusion: The Future of Accessible, Data-Driven Cancer Care

The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation exemplifies the future of cancer care, proving that cutting-edge treatment and compassionate, local care are not mutually exclusive. Their value-based care model benefits everyone: patients achieve better outcomes, families experience less stress, and the healthcare system becomes more efficient.

The numbers tell a compelling story: Over 70 clinics, more than 370,000 patients treated, a 50% reduction in emergency visits and hospitalizations, and over $12,000 in savings per patient in their high-value care model. These are real people receiving life-changing care close to home.

TOI’s forward-thinking approach involves innovation at every level. They democratize access to new treatments by bringing clinical trials to community settings and leverage data analytics to make care smarter and more personalized. Guided by their core values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, and empathy, this commitment to improvement creates a model for other healthcare organizations.

As we at Lifebit continue our work to Unlock the Power of Oncology Data with Lifebit, we recognize that the future of cancer care depends on organizations like TOI. Their dedication to accessible, evidence-based treatment aligns with our vision of a healthcare ecosystem where real-time data insights drive better decisions for every patient.

The fight against cancer is difficult, but institutions like the oncology institute are changing the landscape by making world-class care accessible locally. Combined with advances in AI, federated data platforms, and precision medicine, this approach is building a future where cancer care is more effective and more human. To see how technology is enabling this future, learn how federated data platforms are revolutionizing health research.