BUFFALO, NY - June 13, 2025 – A new #review was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on June 4, 2025, titled “Applying the unattainable triangle in cardio-oncology care: Balancing cost, quality, and time.”

In this review, first author John Hoverson, corresponding author Stella Pak, and colleagues from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio explore how the “unattainable triangle”—a business concept describing the trade-offs between cost, quality, and time—can help improve healthcare delivery in cardio-oncology. As cancer treatments become more complex and often affect the heart, this model highlights the challenge of providing care that is fast, effective, and affordable.

Cardio-oncology is an emerging field focused on preventing and managing heart problems caused by cancer therapies. The review explains that high-quality cancer care often requires advanced diagnostics and close collaboration between oncologists and cardiologists, which can drive up costs and time demands. Understanding how to balance these pressures is essential for delivering better outcomes for patients.

Many cancer survivors face long-term cardiovascular complications due to their treatment. Early monitoring and intervention can reduce these risks. However, these improvements often come with financial burdens, especially when key tests are not covered by insurance. Meanwhile, both patients and clinicians must manage the burden of tight appointment schedules, long clinic visits, and increasing demands on their time.

To improve care quality, the authors emphasize the need for interdisciplinary teamwork and ongoing education. Surveys show that many clinicians are still unfamiliar with cardio-oncology guidelines, which can compromise care. The review also highlights the potential for artificial intelligence and digital tools to streamline care delivery, reduce wait times, and support both patients and providers.

Importantly, the authors point out that improving one area—such as quality—can come at the expense of others, like cost or time. They encourage healthcare systems to take a balanced approach, setting clear goals and using integrated care models that consider all three elements of the triangle together.

“While a perfect model for managing the unattainable triangle may be simply that, ‘unattainable’, investments in research, patient-centered care, data-driven decision-making, and financial alignment with payers will be crucial to the long-term success of both patient outcomes and the organization’s profitability.”

While achieving perfect balance may be difficult, the review suggests that using the unattainable triangle as a guiding framework can help hospitals and clinicians make smarter, more sustainable decisions. As cardio-oncology continues to expand in response to the growing number of cancer survivors with cardiovascular needs, this approach could help improve patient outcomes and strengthen healthcare systems.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28738

Correspondence to - Stella Pak - stellacpak@outlook.com

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Keywords - cancer, cardio-oncology, quality improvement, cardiology, oncology

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Oncotarget

Balancing Time, Cost, and Quality in Cardio-Oncology Care

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Balancing Time, Cost, and Quality in Cardio-Oncology Care

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