A new study from Connor Whole Health University Hospitals reports that an insurance-supported comprehensive oncology program led to clinically significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms such as pain, stress, anxiety, depression, nausea and fatigue. The findings highlight a scalable model with the potential to deliver future integrated therapies within routine oncology care. The findings of this study were recently published in JCO Oncology Clinic.
The study, titled “Implementation and Patient-Reported Outcomes of an Insurance-Supported Integrative Oncology Symptom Management Program,” evaluated the first 16 months of the Connor Whole Health Integrative Oncology (CWHIO) symptom management clinic. The clinic provided 1,924 comprehensive oncology treatments to 291 patients from June 2023 to September 2024, using a hybrid model that combined insured physician visits and massage visits with low-cost group acupuncture sessions and additional philanthropic support for non-billable services.
Integrative oncology bridges the best of conventional cancer treatment with evidence-based supportive therapies such as acupuncture. This program demonstrates how acupuncture can help address symptom burden and improve quality of life when integrated into comprehensive cancer care.”
Jacob Wolf, ND, LAc, Dipl. OM, naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist, UH Connor Whole Health
Dr. Wolf currently serves as the Medical Director of Acupuncture at UH Connor Whole Health and is board certified in acupuncture, Asian herbal medicine and lifestyle medicine.
The study showed significant clinical benefits for patients, with individual treatments leading to significant reductions in moderate to severe symptoms, including pain (–2.08), stress (–2.70), anxiety (–2.28), depression (–2.54), nausea (–3.61), and fatigue (–1.42). In addition, patient satisfaction was extremely high across the program, with 87.1% strongly agreeing that they were satisfied with the services, 85.5% strongly agreeing that they would refer others, and 82.3% strongly agreeing that the services supported effective symptom management. There was an upward trend in the demand for care throughout. with the volume of weekly visits often exceeding 40 and eventually peaking at 57 meetings per week after the introduction of group acupuncture and personalized reiki.
The CWHIO clinic was directed by an integrated oncologist and integrated into the Seidman University Hospital Cancer Center network. Treatment plans align with American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for holistic therapies, including acupuncture and massage for pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
“A whole health approach to cancer care – one that incorporates evidence-based lifestyle and supportive therapies – is well supported by the scientific literature. This study underscores strong patient interest in these services while highlighting persistent system-level barriers that continue to limit access,” said Kristi Artz, MD, MS, FACLM, CCMS, Vicenor Whonor Health at UMHir.
This hybrid clinic model addresses barriers to access to comprehensive oncology access, such as limited insurance reimbursement. Initial doctor consultations and massage therapy are billed through insurance, while group acupuncture is offered at a low self-pay rate of $36.85, which is lower than national averages. Most US comprehensive oncology programs rely heavily on out-of-pocket payments, creating many inequities for patients. By integrating integrated services into oncology workflows and prioritizing insurance billable care, the CWHIO model aims to reduce financial barriers for patients and expand reach throughout the hospital system.
The research was supported by the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation.
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