title: Standardizing treatment: a crisis in cancer care.
abstract: The Institute of Medicine has emphasized the roles of multidisciplinary treatment planning, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, and regionalization of healthcare in optimizing the quality of cancer care. We discuss these critical elements as they pertain to head and neck cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 1445, Houston, TX 77030, USA. cmlewis@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Randal S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Cancer treatment; Head and neck cancer; Practice guidelines; Quality assessment; Standardizing treatment; Treatment outcomes