OBJECTIVES: Faced with decreasing reimbursement costs, greater patient volumes, higher operating costs and pressure to adopt quality standards, community oncology practices and infusion centers operate in an increasingly challenging environment.  This study sought to assess the practice efficiency techniques currently employed and identify opportunities for future research.   METHODS: A comprehensive literature review of reference databases, conference abstracts, journals and medical societies’ websites was performed.  Publications reporting practice management efficiency measures within ambulatory oncology practices and infusion centers located in the United States were included.  Search was limited to English-language articles published between 2007 and 2010.  All publication types except continuing medical education materials and letters to the editor were accepted.  Evidence quality was assessed with the Completeness of Reporting index (CORE-14) instrument. RESULTS: Forty-seven references were accepted for inclusion.  Efficiency strategies were classified into 7 distinct categories, each reported at a similar frequency in the literature.  Within and across these categories, common themes were standardization of care, use of best practices, and alignment between quality and profitability initiatives.  Most publications were recommendations without a study design type (64%) and/or did not report quantifiable outcome data (74%).  Additionally, 21 publications did not define the practice type included, while the remaining articles identified 12 different practice types.  Consequently, applicability is limited, since outcomes cannot be associated with a particular practice type.  Thirty-four publications were assigned a CORE-14 score of 0, indicating they did not meet any criteria for methodological quality (mean score, 1.84). CONCLUSIONS: Numerous efficiency methods are being touted in the literature, but there is limited definitive data on the successfulness of these techniques.  Further research, of a high methodological caliber, is needed to support informed decisions.  Specifically, registries, surveys, and economic analyses would empower oncologists and other oncology professionals with practical strategies to concurrently improve quality while maintaining profitability.