Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Transforms Community Oncology Care and Patient Outcomes

In an interview with Pharmacy Times at the 2026 Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Conference, Olalekan Ajayi, PharmD, MBA, FACCC, discusses the growing role of remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) in enhancing cancer care by enabling proactive patient engagement and early intervention. He highlights how RTM helps patients remain on therapy longer, improves quality of life, and reduces hospitalizations. Ajayi also notes that evolving reimbursement models, including updated RTM billing codes, are making these programs more financially viable for practices. He emphasizes that successful implementation requires strong change management strategies and structured frameworks, such as LEAN principles, to align teams and integrate RTM into clinical workflows.

Pharmacy Times: Your session focuses on turning real-time monitoring (RTM) into measurable results—what are the most impactful clinical and operational outcomes you’ve seen when RTM is implemented effectively in community oncology settings?

Olalekan Ajayi, PharmD, MBA, FACCC: Yeah, so the thing about cancer care patients is that they are a very unique set of patients with unique needs, particularly when they are on treatment. Being able to get them into an RTM program, where we are monitoring them remotely, allows us to reach them much more quickly. They can stay on their therapies longer because we are catching issues before they decide not to come in for treatment. So RTM really provides a way for us to stay in touch with our patients, get ahead of their treatment, and make sure they are getting the most out of it. What that results in is fewer hospitalizations, and patients are able to get the most benefit from their treatment. Overall, their quality of life is much better when they are being monitored.
Pharmacy Times: As someone deeply involved in scaling oncology operations, how can practices balance the upfront investment in RTM technologies with the long-term financial and efficiency gains you’re describing?

Ajayi: I think RTM is an investment in our patients. It is a must, and when you have better outcomes as a practice, it is also beneficial from a business standpoint. What makes it even more interesting now is that RTM services are being reimbursed. There are several RTM codes available, and some were updated for 2026, which gives practices more flexibility and leverage to proactively stay ahead of their patients while also being reimbursed for those services. So the initial investment is worthwhile because better patient care benefits the practice, and there is now also a financial return tied to those services.
Pharmacy Times: You’ve led significant expansion in patient access and services—how does RTM support more proactive, patient-centered care, particularly for patients receiving treatment in community-based oncology practices?

Ajayi: One of the most important aspects of community oncology is ensuring that patients can receive treatment within their own communities. You do not want them traveling unnecessarily, so it is important to build infrastructure that supports that. RTM is an excellent way to allow patients to remain in their communities while receiving treatment. The innovation happening in community oncology has made this possible, and we are seeing clear benefits for our patients.
Pharmacy Times: Drawing from your experience with operational excellence and LEAN principles, what are the key barriers practices face when integrating RTM into workflows, and how can they overcome them to achieve sustainable results?

Ajayi: I think change management is one of the most important components. When you are trying to bring a team along and disrupt existing workflows, you need to have a clear plan. Lean principles provide a framework for engaging staff, aligning the practice, and involving patients so that everyone is moving in the same direction. I have found a lot of success applying those principles when implementing RTM.