CANCER BUZZ

Association of Community Cancer Centers

CANCER BUZZ features fresh perspectives on hot topics in oncology care delivery. CANCER BUZZ is where stakeholders from the front lines of care to the C-suite, from research to the registry, from chairside to benchside, talk about top-of-mind questions and real-world impact. read less
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Cancer Care Team Mental Health: Normalizing Helpers Seeking Help
3d ago
Cancer Care Team Mental Health: Normalizing Helpers Seeking Help
Members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team—and cancer program leadership—recognize the importance of taking care of one’s own mental health to be able to provide the best possible care to patients. Yet, many care team members are hesitant to share sensitive information and/or ask for support. Breaking down the social stigma that is often still associated with seeking mental health services is key to making cancer care clinicians and staff feel a “sense of safety” and that they will not be penalized for accessing mental health services. Normalizing the conversation around mental health is critical to developing this sense of safety and culture of caring.   Guests: Christine Cha, MD Radiation Oncologist System Medical Director Cancer Service Line PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Joseph Cancer Center   Tricia Wooden, MD System Medical Director, Provider and Caregiver Wellness PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Joseph Cancer Center   “First of all, we have to acknowledge that oncologists are human—just like their patients...Everyone benefits from good mental health. And just like physical health, you have to take care of your mental health…Speaking as someone who has experienced depression and burnout out in an earlier part of my career, it is really important to understand that you are not alone and that there are resources that are aimed to help you.”   “Helping clinicians understand where their power is and helping them to feel better has wide-reaching implications on the care of our patients and the way they [clinicians] show up and function in our care teams…It is really difficult, as a non-clinician, to work for a clinician who is experiencing mental health issues and burnout. To some degree, we need to address the well-being of our clinicians first as we start to help to improve the whole health of the care team.”   Read more in ACCC’s Call to Action: Delivery of Psychosocial Care in Oncology Summit. Thank you to BeiGene, USA  for supporting this important work.   Resources: A Psychological First Aid Program in the COVID-19 Era Community-Based Psychological First Aid for Oncology Professionals Improving the Culture of Your Cancer Center, One Idea at a Time Can You Hear Me Now? Caring for the Caregiver Removing the Blame from Burnout
Cancer Care Team Mental Health: Normalizing Helpers Seeking Help
3d ago
Cancer Care Team Mental Health: Normalizing Helpers Seeking Help
Members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team—and cancer program leadership—recognize the importance of taking care of one’s own mental health to be able to provide the best possible care to patients. Yet, many care team members are hesitant to share sensitive information and/or ask for support. Breaking down the social stigma that is often still associated with seeking mental health services is key to making cancer care clinicians and staff feel a “sense of safety” and that they will not be penalized for accessing mental health services. Normalizing the conversation around mental health is critical to developing this sense of safety and culture of caring.   Guests: Christine Cha, MD Radiation Oncologist System Medical Director Cancer Service Line PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Joseph Cancer Center   Tricia Wooden, MD System Medical Director, Provider and Caregiver Wellness PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Joseph Cancer Center   “First of all, we have to acknowledge that oncologists are human—just like their patients...Everyone benefits from good mental health. And just like physical health, you have to take care of your mental health…Speaking as someone who has experienced depression and burnout out in an earlier part of my career, it is really important to understand that you are not alone and that there are resources that are aimed to help you.”   “Helping clinicians understand where their power is and helping them to feel better has wide-reaching implications on the care of our patients and the way they [clinicians] show up and function in our care teams…It is really difficult, as a non-clinician, to work for a clinician who is experiencing mental health issues and burnout. To some degree, we need to address the well-being of our clinicians first as we start to help to improve the whole health of the care team.”   Read more in ACCC’s Call to Action: Delivery of Psychosocial Care in Oncology Summit. Thank you to BeiGene, USA  for supporting this important work.   Resources: A Psychological First Aid Program in the COVID-19 Era Community-Based Psychological First Aid for Oncology Professionals Improving the Culture of Your Cancer Center, One Idea at a Time Can You Hear Me Now? Caring for the Caregiver Removing the Blame from Burnout
Key Highlights from an ACCC Survey on Remote Patient Monitoring
5d ago
Key Highlights from an ACCC Survey on Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is a type of telehealth that allows patients to share data about their health with their care team in between clinic visits, including symptoms and vitals. Symptom tracking and monitoring technologies allow better management of treatment side effects, in turn allowing longer administration of treatments and improved clinical outcomes. While advantages to remote patient monitoring are well-known and documented in the literature, translation into clinical practice must account for patient preferences, equity considerations, financial sustainability, and patient/provider education needs.  In 2022, ACCC conducted a survey to measure patient, caregiver, and provider perceptions and adoption of messaging tools, electronic questionnaires, and connected devices used to track and monitor symptoms during cancer treatment. This podcast shares key survey findings. Guest: David Penberthy, MD, MBA Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Immediate Past President Association of Community Cancer Centers “Through the pandemic, healthcare has been contending with workforce shortages, and so everybody is concerned about how we do more with less. Using digital tools can actually help facilitate patient engagement with the healthcare team—hopefully keeping people out of the hospital and intervening earlier so we can achieve more of what we’re trying to achieve of maintaining health as opposed to just reacting to illness.”  Read more here. Resources: Remote Patient Monitoring: The New Frontier in Telemedicine Opportunities Changing the Tune for CAR T-Cell Therapy: A Music City Experience in Remote Patient Monitoring Remote Patient Monitoring and Health Equity Telehealth Success Stories: Remote Symptom Monitoring Using Patient Reported Outcomes Chemotherapy Care Companion: An Oncology Remote Patient Monitoring Program Remote Home Monitoring of Patients with Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic This project is supported by AstraZeneca.
Alleviating the Psycho-social Burden of MPNs
May 16 2023
Alleviating the Psycho-social Burden of MPNs
As myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) carry a heavy symptom burden which can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life, hear how multidisciplinary care and psycho-social support can help alleviate this burden for patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Sarah Everette, LCSW and oncology social worker at Baptist Health Louisville in Kentucky about how these types of support and coordination can optimize care for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.  “If we get patients into physical therapy or occupational therapy early in their treatment, it helps with outcomes; it helps them [patients] not decondition so easily, especially for elderly populations. However, not only addressing their physical symptoms, but also their mental and emotional health [is important] too, because we know that we are not just caring for one aspect of the person but the whole person.” -Sarah Everette, LCSW  Sarah Everette, LCSW Oncology Social Worker Baptist Health Louisville Louisville, KY Resources: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (cancersupportcommunity.org) The Psychosocial and Financial Aspects of Treating Myelofibrosis (accc.org)  National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Myelofibrosis: Advances in Treatment and Therapy
May 5 2023
Myelofibrosis: Advances in Treatment and Therapy
The goal of treatment for most patients with myelofibrosis is to relieve symptoms. A provider will use a formula to assign a risk category (indicating aggressiveness) for the disease. Myelofibrosis categorized as low risk may not require treatment. Instead, a provider would monitor a patient’s health through regular checkup to watch for signs of disease progression. For those patients with intermediate- or high-risk, treatment most often focuses on managing symptoms. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Aaron Gerds, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology & Medical Oncology, Deputy Director for Clinical Research at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, and Medical Director at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Clinical Research Office in Cleveland, OH. Hear Dr. Gerds discuss standard of care treatment options and new therapies for treating patients with myelofibrosis. “I think the biggest thing when taking care of patients with myelofibrosis is to know what is driving the disease in the patient in front of you. What are the mutations and chromosomes driving disease as well as symptoms and presentation of disease.” “There is a big focus on quality of life for myelofibrosis, but none of these things that patients feel are solely from disease…” Aaron Gerds, MD, MS Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology & Medical Oncology Deputy Director for Clinical Research Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute Medical Director, Clinical Research Office Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Cleveland, OH Resources: ·       Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ·       MPN Research Foundation    This project is supported by AbbVie.
ACCC’s 2023 Advocacy Agenda and Priorities
May 4 2023
ACCC’s 2023 Advocacy Agenda and Priorities
Each year, ACCC is active at the state and federal level, advocating on behalf of its members to ensure that the rules and regulations in place do not in any way impede the delivery of high-quality cancer care. In 2023, ACCC members identified four core areas of focus among a larger set of issues and concerns that the organization will support: 1) Protect Adequate and Stable Reimbursement for Oncology Providers; 2) Reduce Delays in Care Due to Utilization Management; 3) Preserve Provider and Patient Choice in Cancer Treatment; and 4) Improve Access to and Coverage of Supportive Oncology Services. Guest: Barbara Schmidtman, PhD Vice President of Operations, Corewell Health West Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee, Association of Community Cancer Centers “Continued access to telehealth coverage is an important topic that we need to continue to bring up over the next several years...as we look at the shortage of medical oncologists and other specially-trained providers and…the rural communities that do not always have access to highly-specialized or sub-specialized clinicians, the use of telehealth is incredibly impactful for providing care to those rural communities.” Read more in “ACCC Announces its 2023 Advocacy Agenda” in ACCCBuzz. Resources:   Advocacy in Action: Putting Guardrails Around Step Therapy Compliance: Jumping Through the Hoops of Prior Authorizations and Denials to Deliver Comprehensive Cancer Care How to Prepare for the Prior Authorization Blizzard Study Highlights Need for Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Reform Pharmacy Benefit Managers: How Advocacy Led to Action [PODCAST] Ep 85 State by State: Advocacy Advances PBM Reform, Part 1 State by State: Advocacy Advances PBM Reform, Part 2
Symptoms Scoring and Risk Stratification for Myelofibrosis
Apr 27 2023
Symptoms Scoring and Risk Stratification for Myelofibrosis
The average survival rate for patients with myelofibrosis is six years. But this varies based on potential treatments. There are no drugs that can modify the outcome for myelofibrosis, and the only treatment that leads to cure is an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, because of the high rates of morbidity and mortality, this treatment must be carefully considered based on the patient. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Gabriela S. Hobbs. MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Clinical Director of Leukemia, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Listen as Dr. Hobbs discusses symptom scoring, risk stratification, and effective practices in building a strong myelofibrosis program. “…If a patient is higher risk, they should be referred to transplant; also patients who are high risk are more likely to have low blood counts, low platelets, and low red blood cells that may also influence how these patients are treated.” – Gabriela S. Hobbs. MD  This project is supported by AbbVie and GSK.   Gabriela S. Hobbs. MD Assistant Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School Clinical Director of Leukemia Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA Resources:  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MPN Research Foundation
Utilizing Subcutaneous and IV Treatment for Improved Outcomes with Multiple Myeloma Patients
Apr 20 2023
Utilizing Subcutaneous and IV Treatment for Improved Outcomes with Multiple Myeloma Patients
While significant advances have been made overall in the treatment of multiple myeloma, the management of transplant-ineligible patients remains challenging. Patients with multiple myeloma are not cured with conventional therapy. Treatment does, however, alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong survival. The current standard of care for multiple myeloma patients includes an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody in either first- or second-line treatment of myeloma. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Cindy Varga, MD, Hematologist at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC. Listen as Dr. Varga discusses the positives and negatives with subcutaneous versus intravenous drugs in treating patients with multiple myeloma. “There are benefits to the patient (for subcutaneous administration), it is very fast, as quick as 5-minutes. So. there is convenience there and less side effects.” “Having patients be able to access these amazing drugs (both IV and subcutaneous) in their local infusion center, definitely helps with their up-front treatment plan. These patients are going into remissions, feeling better, and their quality of life is better on these drugs because they are so effective…” -        Cindy Varga, MD, Hematologist at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute Cindy Varga, MD Hematologist Levine Cancer Institute at Atrium Health Charlotte, NC Resources: -        Leukemia & Lymphoma Society -        American Cancer Society -        Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation  This project is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson   ACCC is collaborating with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on this project.
A Better Patient Experience in the Management of Incidental Lung Nodules
Apr 13 2023
A Better Patient Experience in the Management of Incidental Lung Nodules
Recognizing the need for better care coordination and prompted by the experience of a patient partner, WellSpan Health embarked on a multispecialty effort to reimagine how incidental nodules are managed through the lens of the Quadruple Aim: improving the patient and provider experience, lowering per capita cost of care, and optimizing the health of populations. The new care delivery model identifies, implements, and expedites patient lung nodule care in real time and provides consistent follow-up along the continuum of care. The result: patient outcomes are optimized by early intervention of undiagnosed lung cancer. This care delivery model for incidental lung nodule findings can serve as a springboard for other incidental findings and help detect other early carcinomas. Guest: Nikhilesh Korgaonkar, MD, MBA, FACS Thoracic Surgeon Chief Medical Officer Wellspan Health Cancer Institute “One thing I will say is that I cannot understate the importance of marking sure all the stakeholders are on board with a program like this. We have stakeholders in radiology, in primary care, in pulmonology, and, of course, in administration. And this program is the result of making sure everyone was on the same page with the goals and the desired outcomes of this program. And that really set this program for success.” Read more in “Reimagining Healthcare for Incidental Lung Nodules” in Volume 38, Number 2, Oncology Issues. Resources: ·       Oncology Capture of ED Patients with Incidental Radiologic Findings ·       Addressing ED Incidental Imaging Findings Through Navigation ·       A Small, Island Community Hospital Removes Barriers to Lung Cancer Screening and Detection ·       Engaging Patients & Assisting Primary Care Physicians in Lung Cancer Screening ·       The Rapid Access Chest and Lung Assessment Program ·       Development & Evolution of an Incidental Lung Lesion Program
In the Know: New Treatment Guidelines for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Apr 6 2023
In the Know: New Treatment Guidelines for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
As clinicians continue to seek new ways to provide the best patient care for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, a group of rare hematological cancers which can be challenging to treat, hear how recent guideline and treatment updates by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) can optimize care for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Andrew Kuykendall, MD, assistant member of the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. about the impact of these new guidelines. “Every single patient is very different in the symptoms they present with, the duration of the disease, and what their goals are in receiving therapy. Ultimately, that often means that we don’t have a one-size-fits-all treatment strategy…Instead, we have a variety of treatment options that can provide different benefits for patients and when you have that, it merely comes down to what makes sense for the patient, what makes sense for the disease, what makes sense for the patient’s family, and what you feel as a physician is the most appropriate for the patient.” – Andrew Kuykendall, MD This is the fourth video podcast in a four-episode series on myeloproliferative neoplasms in connection with the education program Advancing Care for Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs). This episode is supported by Incyte. Guests: Andrew Kuykendall, MD,  Assistant Member, Department of Malignant Hematology Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL Resources: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (cancersupportcommunity.org) National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Mitigating the Financial Burden of Cancer Diagnostics
Apr 4 2023
Mitigating the Financial Burden of Cancer Diagnostics
As soaring testing costs, coverage challenges, and heavy administrative overhead continue to impact access to guideline-concordant screening and biomarker testing, hear what multidisciplinary care teams need to know about mitigating the financial burden of cancer diagnostics. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jan Nowak, MD, PhD and clinical chief of Molecular Pathology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Alti Rahman, MHA, MBA, CSSBB and practice administrator at Oncology Consultants, and Jordan Karwedsky, financial counselor at St. Vincent Hospital Cancer Center Green Bay Oncology, on how to reduce financial hurdles and increase access to cancer diagnostics. “Understanding how coverage decisions and policies are made will help identify gaps in those policies, which can then be addressed…understanding this process can also enable productive appeals to payment denials when they occur.” – Jan Nowak, MD, PhD “The cancer screening process is a community-based approach; it is something that doesn’t just belong to the healthcare provider or health system realm–it is an approach taken to educate various communities on the importance of screening.” – Alti Rahman, MHA, MBA, CSSBB This video podcast was produced in connection with the education program Cancer Diagnostics: Transforming Complex to Clear, with support by Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Lilly, AstraZeneca, and Amgen. Guests:  Clinician: Jan Nowak, MD, PhD Clinical Chief, Molecular Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Buffalo, NY Administrator: Alti Rahman, MHA, MBA, CSSBB Practice Administrator Oncology Consultants Houston, TX Financial Counselor:   Jordan Karwedsky, Financial Counselor St. Vincent Hospital Cancer Center, Green Bay Oncology Green Bay, WI Resources: ACCC Financial Advocacy Network ACCC Updates Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines Financial Advocacy Playbook Financial Advocacy Toolkit LIVE from NOC: Advocates Weigh-In on Financial Advocacy Guidelines Update — [MINI PODCAST] LIVE from NOC: Financial Advocacy Guidelines — [MINI PODCAST]
Getting the Green Light for Precision Medicine Stewards
Mar 16 2023
Getting the Green Light for Precision Medicine Stewards
As cancer programs seek new ways to improve coordination of molecular testing, hear how precision medicine stewards can streamline testing processes to improve efficiency and improve the patient experience. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Melissa Cruz-Tanner, LPN, OPN-CG, and manager of Patient Navigation Services and the newly created Molecular Processing Department at Astera Cancer Care in New Jersey about their journey from development to approval of a new molecular processor role to support precision medicine testing. “The period of wait time [for test results] causes so much trauma to the patient—the anxiety of not knowing. With us implementing the molecular team in our practice, it allowed us to have a realistic timeline on when we could tell the patients their results would be in. It also allowed us more diversity in test selection [i.e., the ability to select specific vendors or test types based on precise timelines for processing], thus cutting the time and access to treatment and improving the overall patient experience.” – Melissa Cruz-Tanner, LPN, OPN-CG This vodcast was developed in connection with the ACCC education program Precision Medicine Stewardship and was made possible with support by AstraZeneca and Blueprint Medicines. Guest: Melissa Cruz-Tanner, LPN, OPN-CG  Manager of Patient Navigation and Molecular Processing Astera Cancer Care East Brunswick, NJ   Additional Reading/Sources ·       Precision Medicine Stewardship (accc.org) ·       Precision Medicine Trends: Stewardship is on the Rise ·       Precision Medicine Stewards: The Next Step in Personalized Medicine ·       Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators
The Impact of Integrated Care on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)
Mar 9 2023
The Impact of Integrated Care on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)
As myeloproliferative neoplasms carry a significant symptom burden and oftentimes can require lifelong care coordination and close monitoring, hear how a strong multidisciplinary approach can impact shared decision-making and patient engagement. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with speaks with Andrew Kuykendall, MD, assistant member of the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. and Katherine Mast, BSN, RN at Moffit Cancer Center about the impact of multidisciplinary coordination on patient care and outcomes for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. “When we talk about shared-decision making, I think we can talk about it in the sense of sharing that decision-making with the patient, and also sharing it with the entire [multidisciplinary] team. We like to create that engagement where we [the multidisciplinary team] are all there together—to recount what is going on, refocus what our goals of therapy are, discuss what the different options are, and then put it in the patient’s hands to say ‘of these options, what do you think makes the most sense for what your goals are?’” – Andrew Kuykendall, MD “Where we can make some of the biggest impact is having people on our team who really understand what it’s like to have an MPN because we see this group of patients constantly. Having one person that they can come to is wonderful, but having multiple people that are on their team that they know are there to help and answer questions can be really profoundly impactful, especially if they have a rare disease and their local hematologist/oncologist may not know as much about it.” – Katherine Mast, BSN, RN This is the third video podcast in a four-episode series on myeloproliferative neoplasms in connection with the education program “Advancing Care for Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs).” This episode is supported by Incyte. Guests: Andrew Kuykendall, MD,  Assistant Member, Department of Malignant Hematology Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL  Katherine Mast, BSN, RN  Registered Nurse Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL Resources: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (cancersupportcommunity.org) National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Treatment Options for Patients with Multiple Myeloma Who Are Ineligible for Transplant
Mar 2 2023
Treatment Options for Patients with Multiple Myeloma Who Are Ineligible for Transplant
Multiple myeloma refers to blood cancer found within the plasma cells of bone marrow. It is a rare cancer, affecting less than one percent of the U.S. population. Currently, there is no cure for multiple myeloma, but there are treatment options that can help people live longer, healthier lives. Stem cell transplant is a standard of care for eligible patients. However, over half of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma are not eligible for transplant due to age or other major health problems, such as heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease. And studies have shown people who are ineligible for transplant have a lower survival rate.  Listen as Dr. Yee provides treatment planning options available to patients who are ineligible for transplant. “Overtime these patients can experience significant improvements in quality of life…they can go back to their normal routine.” “Ultimately, there needs to be a shared decision between the patient and the care team in terms of what their goals and priorities are.” – Andrew Yee, MD Andrew Yee, MD Clinical Director Center for Multiple Myeloma at Massachusetts General Hospital Assistant Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA This podcast was generously supported by Janssen Oncology. This podcast was developed through a collaboration between The Association of Community Cancer Centers and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Resources:  ACCC’s Multiple Myeloma Web Page HealthTree Foundation Leukemia & Lymphoma Society National Cancer Institute
Best Practices in Caring for Patients with CLL in a Post-COVID Era
Feb 21 2023
Best Practices in Caring for Patients with CLL in a Post-COVID Era
Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) are considered highly susceptible to bacteria and viruses due to immunocompromisation. Now, in the post-COVID era, we are facing multiple viruses at the same time (i.e., Influenza, RSV, and COVID). It is as important as ever for patients with CLL to continue receiving vaccinations, as well as following safety and preventive measures such as wearing masks and social distancing. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Brian Koffman, MDCM, DCFP, FCFP, DABFP, MSEd, Co-Founder, Executive Vice President, and Chief Medical Officer at the CLL Society in Chula Vista, CA. Hear the most up-to-date best practices, including shared decision-making, regarding treating patients with CLL in this post-COVID era. “The pandemic forced into the spotlight the reality that all CLL patients, regardless of their treatment status, even those who have not been treated, are immunocompromised. Patients had to make shifts in their lifestyle.” “I think it is important that CLL patients realize that the pandemic is not over for the immunocompromised. And the virus that causes Covid infections, is not going away.”  – Brian Koffman, MDCM, DCFP, FCFP, DABFP, MSEd Brian Koffman, MDCM, DCFP, FCFP, DABFP, MSEd Co-Founder, Executive Vice President, and Chief Medical Officer CLL Society Chula Vista, CA   Resources: Patients with CLL have a lower risk of death from COVID-19 in the Omicron era (nih.gov) CLL Society Cancer Support Community ClinicalTrials.gov
Addressing Regional Challenges to Equitable Care for Patients with CLL
Feb 14 2023
Addressing Regional Challenges to Equitable Care for Patients with CLL
As community care teams work to provide equitable care for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), understanding disparities as well as state and region-specific barriers that impact care is critical. CANCER BUZZ speaks with Adam Kittai, MD, hematologist, and assistant professor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute about ongoing research efforts to examine these disparities and ensuring equitable access to care for patients with CLL. “In order to make a dent in cancer health equity, you need to have multi-level approach, including assessing what the problem is, implementing research that is small but additive, and focusing on the areas of the most unmet need. If we start to focus on the barriers that our patients experience, one patient at a time, we should be able to make a difference–if you focus on each patient in front of you and work on solving those barriers and [determining] reasons why they may not be getting equitable care as opposed to their cohorts.” – Adam Kittai, MD, hematologist, and assistant professor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center- The James This podcast was created in connection with the education program A Regional Approach to Advancing Care for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients. This episode is supported by AstraZeneca, Janssen Oncology, and Pharmacyclics. Guest: Adam Kittai, MD Hematologist and Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center- The James Resources: Multidisciplinary Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care (accc-cancer.org)  Quality Improvement Case Studies  CLL: Models of Effective Care Delivery  Podcast EP 57: COVID-19 Challenges: Managing Patients with CLL  Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) (cancer.org)  Addressing Racial Disparities in CLL Care - Patient Empowerment Network (powerfulpatients.org)  CLL Resources - CLL Society
Robots, Biologics, and Advocates: Lessons from the Pharmacy
Feb 7 2023
Robots, Biologics, and Advocates: Lessons from the Pharmacy
Andre Harvin teases his keynote at the ACCC 49th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit, where he will talk about innovative solutions to streamline pharmacy operations that have saved his healthcare system millions of dollars. One of those innovative solutions—robotic pharmacists.  Guest: Andre Harvin, PharmD, MS, MBA, Executive Director of Pharmacy, Oncology Services, Cone Health Cancer Center “We know that there are a lot of frustrations with biosimilars…depending on the payer, it may limit which biosimilar you can actually utilize with the patient…which one you’ll get the best reimbursement for, how much it will cost…There’s so much that you have to take into account, and we want to show people how you can do that more seamlessly by leveraging technology.”  Hear Andre speak live at the ACCC 49th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit. Resources: Leveraging Pharmacy Informatics to Standardize Pharmacists Review of Oral Oncolytics for Hospitalized Patients Transitioning Select Chemotherapeutics to the Outpatient Setting Improves Care and Reduces Costs Reducing Revenue Loss and Patient Financial Toxicity with a Pharmacy-Managed Pre-Certification and Denials Management Program Biosimilars Implementation Roadmap The Oncology Pharmacy Navigator: A New Best Practice Model for Managing Medications Implementation of Drug Vial Optimization to Reduce Drug Waste
Precision Medicine: Stories from the CRISPR Revolution
Jan 31 2023
Precision Medicine: Stories from the CRISPR Revolution
Kevin Davies, author of Editing Humanity: The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing, teases his keynote at the ACCC 49th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit, where he will talk about the history of genome technology and its potential to change precision medicine.  The first FDA approval for a CRISPR therapy is imminent. But can this game-changing technology deliver safe and affordable precision medicine for patients?  Guest: Kevin Davies, PhD, Executive Editor of The CRISPR Journal and GEN Biotechnology and author of Editing Humanity: The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing, Breakthrough: The Race for the Breast Cancer Gene, and Cracking the Genome; co-author of DNA: The Story of the Genetic Revolution. “Rather than just adding a healthy gene to a bunch of cells in a patient and hoping that the gene can correct the disease in question, we now have tools, including CRISPR, to go in and actually surgically fix or repair the broken sequence in the DNA we have inherited…we are literally performing precision chemistry on the double helix.” Hear Kevin speak live at the ACCC 49th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit. Resources: CRISPR-Directed Gene Editing in a Community Cancer Center AI's Role in Advancing Cancer Prevention Detection Diagnosis Treatment and Precision Medicine Precision Medicine Stewards: A Case Study from Sanford Health Manipulating Data to Make Precision Medicine Magic Eliminating Precision Medicine Disparities Development of a Model Precision Cancer Therapies Program in a Community Setting ACCESS: The First Step Toward Analyzing Precision Medicine Data
The Urgency of MPN Treatment – Why Timing Matters
Jan 26 2023
The Urgency of MPN Treatment – Why Timing Matters
As myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of progressive blood cancers that can develop quickly into more serious hematological diseases, hear what community practices need to know about treating these patients quickly and the impact that timeliness of care can have on patient outcomes. In this episode, CANCERBUZZ speaks with Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, United Energy Resources Inc. professor of Medicine and hematologist oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, about when to begin therapeutic care for MPNs and the urgency of treatment. “We learned from experience over the last ten to twenty years that early intervention—when things are not too bad—will actually help us achieve the goals of therapy. We will have a chance to significantly decrease the size of the spleen or improve the quality of life if we do not wait for patient to be terribly sick. So, early intervention in terms of identifying the problem, objectivizing it, [and recognizing] that the symptoms are there, [indicate that we] should start the therapy now—why wait?”–Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD This is the second video podcast in a four-episode series on myeloproliferative neoplasms in connection with the education program “Advancing Care for Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs).” This episode is supported by Incyte. Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine Hematologist Oncologist MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Houston, TX Resources: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (cancersupportcommunity.org) MPN10: Track the Severity of your MF- or ET-related symptoms Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs): 7 questions, answered (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
The Role of Population Health Navigators
Jan 24 2023
The Role of Population Health Navigators
The patient navigation world has a new kid on the block. Just when we thought we knew everything there was to know about navigators, the role has been reinvented by a concept so intuitive, it is difficult to believe that these navigators are not standard practice in oncology. Meet population health navigators—individuals dedicated to supporting a specific underserved population, including rural, Black, and Latinx populations, through culturally and linguistically competent navigation services for patients with cancer, their families, and their caregivers. These navigators share a cultural connection and language with their patients and are non-clinical professionals—legal specialists, social workers, advocacy experts—who bring valuable, real-world skills and experiences to patients’ cancer journey and help break down barriers more effectively by understanding the nuances of a patient’s culture, language, and identity. Guest: Emily CopusManager, Navigation Program Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist “It’s so important to have somebody who looks like you when you walk into a room, especially when you are talking about something so vulnerable as a cancer diagnosis and all the challenges that come along with it. It just allows you to connect with someone on a different level.”  Read more in “Population Health Navigators: An Innovative Approach for Supporting Underserved Patients” in Volume 38, Number One, Oncology Issues. Resources: The Community Health Worker: A Cancer Program’s Role in Population Health Efforts A Digital Population Tracking System Helps Improve Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Services Implementation of a Health Disparities & Equity Program at the Duke Cancer Institute Genetic Cancer Screening and Testing in a Medically Underserved Community Bridging the Gap: Early Detection of Cancer for the Medically Underserved
Prioritizing a Multidisciplinary Team Approach in the Care of Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer
Jan 17 2023
Prioritizing a Multidisciplinary Team Approach in the Care of Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer
Because most cases of SCLC are diagnosed at advanced stages, it is rarely curable by the time of diagnosis. However, for some patients, treatment can improve quality of life. Multidisciplinary care coordination is especially important with aggressive cases of SCLC, as there may be several unique challenges to be addressed. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Ahmed Al-Hazzouri, MD, Medical Oncologist, Ryan Schroeder, MD, Pulmonologist, and Justin Wu, MD, Radiation Oncologist, from AdventHealth’s Cancer Institute Waterman, Tavares, FL. Hear what impact a multidisciplinary team approach can have on patient experience and health outcomes. “The Lung Nodule Clinic is a way for us to also promote community outreach to say, not only should you get screened, and educate the public about being screened, but can help you if there is an applicable finding.”  – J. Ryan Schroeder, MD   Ahmed Al-Hazzouri, MD Medical Oncologist AdventHealth’s Cancer Institute Waterman Tavares, FL Ryan Schroeder, MD Pulmonologist AdventHealth’s Cancer Institute Waterman Tavares, FL Justin Wu, MD Radiation Oncologist AdventHealth’s Cancer Institute Waterman Tavares, FL   Resources:  Cancer Support Community ClinicalTrials.gov Go2 for Lung Cancer LUNGEVITY Lung Cancer Research Foundation