Navigation is a Tool, Not a Solution: Why Cancer Care Demands Clinical Intervention at Every Stage

Cancer care is complex, requiring specialized expertise at every stage—from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, survivorship, and beyond. It’s not just about treating the disease; it involves personalized screening, ongoing surveillance, and addressing mental and financial health needs. Without expert-led guidance across these interconnected areas, gaps in care can lead to delayed treatments and increased burdens on patients and caregivers.

Many employers turn to care navigation solutions to fill these gaps, but navigation alone is not enough to manage the full spectrum of cancer care. Navigators provide essential logistical support—helping patients coordinate appointments, manage insurance, and connect to resources. However, navigators alone cannot close gaps in clinical decision-making. They aren’t trained to develop or execute treatment plans that adhere to clinical guidelines. Cancer care demands specialized expertise throughout—from diagnosis and treatment to survivorship. Without clinical experts overseeing care, important decisions may be delayed, potentially leading to poorer outcomes for patients and higher costs for employers.

Because of these complexities, cancer care cannot be left solely to navigators. Employers need proactive, direct care, not passive navigation. Color’s model integrates clinical expertise at every step of the process, ensuring that oncologists, genetic counselors, nurse specialists, and other experts are involved precisely when critical decisions need to be made.

Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic is designed to address these complexities through a direct and integrated approach to cancer management. With a 50-state medical group, we provide patients access to a vast network of board-certified physicians, oncologists, nurses, and other specialists, ensuring proactive, high-quality care at every stage of the cancer journey, no matter where they are.

Our services span from diagnostic workups and treatment protocol reviews to symptom management and expert consultations. We offer 24/7 oncologist-led care for any cancer diagnosis, supported by partnerships with leading experts from NCI-designated cancer centers. Our curbside expert network gives patients timely access to specialized, multi-disciplinary insights for complex cases.

Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic is uniquely comprised of cancer expertise for every step of the journey, including:

• Curbside Expert Network: Through our curbside expert network, patients can access specialized advice from a nationwide group of oncologists and cancer specialists from NCI-designated cancer centers. This network provides multi-specialty expertise, ensuring that patients receive timely, expert recommendations to guide their treatment, particularly for complex cases.
• Board-Certified Physicians: Our physicians are board-certified in family medicine and internal medicine, with specialized training in managing the full spectrum of cancer care, from high-risk management and screening to treatment and survivorship.
• High-Risk Experts: Our high-risk experts include board-certified genetic counselors, who specialize in assessing inherited cancer risks and supporting patients in making informed decisions about their screening and management plans.
• Care Advocates: Our care advocates provide personalized, 1:1 support to guide patients through every aspect of their cancer care journey. With experience in primary, oncology, and specialty care settings, they assist with locating in-network providers, scheduling appointments, and helping patients understand the financial implications of their care. Care advocates work closely with Color’s clinical care providers to ensure seamless coordination with external physicians, such as oncologists and specialists.
• Behavioral Health Support Groups: Cancer Connect is the only peer-led support program designed specifically for cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors. It combines peer support with a structured, evidence-based curriculum, led by trained cancer survivors and caregivers, offering accessible, community-driven therapy at any stage of the cancer journey.

At Color, we know that integrating clinical expertise throughout the entire cancer journey leads to better outcomes, reduces costs, and provides much-needed support for patients and caregivers alike.

Find out more

To learn more about how Color Health is expanding our Virtual Cancer Clinic to better serve employers and health plans, read more on our capabilities expansion here, or get in touch with us directly at learnmore@color.com.