ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of
Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) in collaboration with AstraZeneca,
a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company, has announced the
findings of a national quality care initiative for patients with
stage III and stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
ACCC conducted a national multi-phase effort to provide guidance
on key issues related to the optimization of care for patients
diagnosed with Stages III and IV NSCLC. To achieve this goal, the
project explored coordination and communication within the
multidisciplinary cancer care team to understand existing barriers
and create and execute process improvement plans that address these
barriers.
An expert ACCC Steering Committee used selection criteria to
choose and offer Quality Improvement (QI) assistance to six cancer
programs across the United States,
looking to identify ways to improve care for patients with Stage
III and IV NSCLC. The committee, composed of experts from multiple
disciplines is chaired by David
Spigel, MD, Chief Scientific Officer and Director, Lung
Cancer Research Program at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute. He
is also a member of the ACCC Board of Trustees, and chairman of the
initiative's steering committee.
As a result of this project, the six cancer programs identified
ways to improve care for patients with Stage III and IV NSCLC. Each
cancer program focused on areas that were most relevant to their
practice setting and found specific ways to incorporate the latest
evidence and clinical practice guidelines.
The initial six cancer programs to implement the QI program
include:
- FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Moore Regional Hospital -
Pinehurst, NC
- Saint Francis Cancer Center - Tulsa, OK
- Southern Ohio Medical Center - Portsmouth, OH
- Sutter Heath, Sutter Medical
Center - Sacramento, CA
- Tennessee Oncology - Nashville, TN
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of
Alabama - Birmingham, AL
Process improvements were made to optimize biomarker testing,
monitor patients for immune-mediated adverse reactions, and engage
members of the cancer care team to increase palliative care and
reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization. Several cancer
programs found ways to reduce delays in testing and/or to improve
their use of liquid biopsy testing in patients with advanced NSCLC.
While the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in care
delivery, the participating sites remained committed to
implementing changes around biomarker testing, care delivery, and
symptom management. To read the full findings, procedures to
implement the QI projects, and view videos on learnings from each
program, visit ACCC's website LINK.
"Our hope is that by sharing these findings with the greater
oncology community, multidisciplinary care teams will be able to
apply these tested models across care settings-- from large
academic institutions to smaller community programs or
practices--to help bridge gaps and create greater outcomes for
patients with stage III and stage IV non-small cell lung cancer,"
said Dr. Spigel.
This project is part of a multi-phase initiative, Fostering
Excellence in Care and Outcomes in Patients with Stage III and IV
NSCLC, which seeks to improve interdisciplinary communication
and care coordination for patients with stage III and IV NSCLC, led
by the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), along with
partner organizations, the American College of Chest Physicians
(CHEST), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
(IASLC), and LUNGevity Foundation. Together, they are facilitating
peer-led development of resources and tools to support the goal of
excellence in care and outcomes for patients with NSCLC in all
settings of care. Learn more here.
About ACCC
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the
leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care
community. Founded in 1974, ACCC is a powerful network of 28,000
multidisciplinary practitioners from 2,100 hospitals and practices
nationwide. As advances in cancer screening and diagnosis,
treatment options, and care delivery models continue to evolve - so
has ACCC - adapting its resources to meet the changing needs of the
entire oncology care team. For more information, visit
accc-cancer.org. Follow us on social media; read our blog,
ACCCBuzz; tune in to our CANCER BUZZ podcast; and view our CANCER
BUZZ TV channel.
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/association-of-community-cancer-centers-announces-findings-of-national-initiative-to-support-quality-care-for-stage-iii-and-iv-nsclc-301410012.html
SOURCE Association of Community Cancer Centers