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Association of Community Cancer Centers presents Innovator Awards
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The Association of Community Cancer Centers presented its ACCC Innovator Awards to seven member programs.
The awards recognize innovative strategies that improve access, quality and value in cancer care delivery.
This year’s recipients are:
• Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospitals in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin — Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospitals developed a dynamic discussion platform not hindered by time and location constraints to overcome challenges to scheduling and coordination common to traditional tumor boards. The electronic multidisciplinary conference model facilitates a prospective, real-time approach to case planning, allowing the care team to view case information and engage in ongoing dialogue with their peers at any time. During a 1-year pilot, the number of patients discussed by the interdisciplinary team increased fourfold. Program leaders also reported significant improvements in communication and care coordination.
• LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at UT Health Austin/Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas — LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes adopted the Cancer Life reiMagined (CaLM) model to provide optimal whole-person care. The program tailors support services and approaches cancer as a chronic condition that requires long-term care. Oncologists, advanced practice providers, palliative care experts, social workers, therapists, nutritionists, financial navigators and others work together to prioritize both quality of life and optimal disease treatment.
• New England Cancer Specialists in Scarborough, Maine — The practice partnered with a local food bank to allow food-insecure patients to collect bags of groceries when picking up their medication at the pharmacy. The practice determined 97% of patients screened as food insecure had health insurance coverage. “You should never assume you know who your food-insecure patients are,” Tracey Weisberg, MD, a medical oncologist with the practice, said in a press release.
• University of Colorado Cancer Center in Aurora, Colorado — The institution developed a telemedicine psychotherapy support group designed for young adults with cancer. Patients who would not have been able to attend support group sessions due to distance, severe weather or health issues could join their peers virtually. All participants completed a 6-week pilot program and reported high satisfaction due to increased access to mental health services, companionship and reduced travel time.
• University of North Carolina Hospital’s department of pharmacy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina — The department developed a closed-loop, pharmacy-managed precertification and denials management program. This effort has reduced institutional risk for revenue loss due to denied claims and also has reduced patient distress related to the financial impact of treatment.
• WellSpan Cancer Centers in York, Pennsylvania — The WellSpan Oncology Service Line developed a mobile app to provide radiation oncology patients on-demand access to treatment- and disease-specific education. The app includes appointment and treatment schedules, as well as a symptom tracker. It also allows for secure messaging with care team members and access to support services. The app is connected to WellSpan’s electronic health record, so clinicians can use it to monitor patient symptoms and side effects.
• Yuma Regional Medical Center Cancer Center in Yuma, Arizona — Access to cancer-related genetic counseling and testing in this region is limited. To improve access, the practice partnered with Myriad Genetics to offer genetic testing to appropriate patients identified during the registration intake process prior to their first visit. The rate of genetic testing among patients with cancer increased fourfold within 4 months, and this testing affected the clinical management of 20% of those cases.