Protocol Cares offers a virtual, oncology‑focused behavioral health program that integrates with a practice’s EMR to provide evidence‑based therapy and regular progress updates for cancer patients. The service aims to reduce anxiety, depression, and related emergency visits while enabling oncology practices to bill for mental health care, improving patient outcomes and practice efficiency.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Many oncology patients experience anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric distress, which can lead to unnecessary emergency department visits, higher readmission rates, and poorer treatment adherence. These behavioral health issues often go untreated because oncology practices lack integrated mental health services that fit into their existing workflows.
Solution
Protocol provides a virtual, oncology-focused behavioral health program that integrates directly with a practice’s electronic medical record and care processes. Using evidence‑based Collaborative Care (CoCM) interventions, the service delivers regular therapy sessions and structured updates to oncologists, helping patients build resilience and maintain treatment adherence. The platform is designed for seamless implementation, requiring minimal changes to existing workflows while offering revenue‑generating, billable services for the practice. Clinical data show significant reductions in depression symptoms and a decrease in unnecessary emergency department utilization among participants.
Target Audience
Primary customers are oncology practices and cancer treatment centers seeking to incorporate mental health support into their patient care pathways.
Features
- Virtual therapy sessions tailored to cancer patients’ specific emotional and psychological needs
- Integration with existing EMR systems for automatic documentation and clinician updates
- Structured, regular progress reports delivered to oncologists to inform treatment plans
- Evidence‑based Collaborative Care model supported by over 90 clinical trials and meta‑analyses
- Revenue‑generating billing capabilities that allow practices to bill for behavioral health services
- Rapid onboarding process with minimal disruption to current clinical workflows