Association of Cancer Care Centers | Strategic Alliance Partnership

Palliative care is quality care, and providers and health systems need to do a better job at ensuring there is equity in palliative care, said Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, MA, MS, FACCC, of Wake Forest University and the Association of Cancer Care Centers.

More than 80% of patients with lung cancer receive care in their communities, but this can leave them vulnerable to gaps in care quality and delivery.

Many talks at the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) 41st National Oncology Conference advocated for the adoption of culturally relevant care, the leveraging of community partnerships, and community engagement to build better trust with patients and improve outcomes.

There are many misconceptions patients might have about clinical trials that prevent them from participating, and it’s important to understand what they are in order to overcome them, said Terry L. Keys, of University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.

Allowing patients to stay in their homes to receive bispecific antibodies can make the whole cancer journey easier, explained Courtney VanHouzen, PharmD, of Cowell Family Cancer Center, Munson Healthcare.

Financial advocacy in health care should advocate for system change and community work to give people better access to health and well-being before they get a life-changing cancer diagnosis, said Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, MA, MS, FACCC, of Wake Forest University and the Association of Cancer Care Centers.

Naoto T. Ueno, MD, PhD, FACP, of the University of Hawai’I Cancer Center outlines the underrepresentation in clinical trials, the lack of permanent medical oncologists, and issues of trust affecting care for the populations living in Hawaii.

Financial toxicity and patient and staff wellness were well explored at the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) 41st National Oncology Conference, serving as the focal point of multiple posters and presentations.

The 41st Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) National Oncology Conference began with a diverse range of poster exhibits, highlighting important initiatives in patient wellness.

Interview with Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

The annual legislative update at the Community Oncology Alliance Community Oncology Conference identified what Congress may focus on prior to the upcoming election.

Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.

Friday's keynote speaker, Katherine A. Meese, PhD, addressed the conference theme of workforce support at the Association of Cancer Care Centers 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit.

Interviews with Katherine Meese, PhD, of University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Nadine Barrett, PhD, MS, MPH, of Wake Forest University, from day 2 of the Association of Cancer Care Centers 50th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (ACCC AMCCBS).

The session at ACCC's 50th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit featured discussions on patient navigation, addressing patients' sexual health, needs of LGBTQ+ patients, and more.

Stephen Speicher, MD, Flatiron Health, highlights the organization's frameworks for ensuring ethical artificial intelligence (AI) usage, emphasizing the importance of providers and health systems asking critical questions when considering AI tools.

Mila Felder, MD, FACEP, emergency physician and vice president for Well-Being for All Teammates, Advocate Health, talks about tailoring the Stanford Model of Professional Fulfillment to support the postpandemic oncology workforce.

Interviews with Kirollos Hanna, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, of Minnesota Oncology and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and Alti Rahman, MHA, MBA, of American Oncology Network, from day 1 of the Association of Cancer Care Centers 50th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (ACCC AMCCBS).

Coverage from the Association of Cancer Care Centers’ 50th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit.

Margaret Liang, MD, MSHPM, gynecologic oncologist and health services researcher and director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program, Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, discusses financial toxicity in cancer care and how institutions can help alleviate the financial burden for patients.

This year’s top content from the fall meeting of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) highlights both treatment gains made through innovative referral, screening, and assistance initiatives and the ongoing need to improve health equity and research inclusivity.

Afreen Shariff, MD, MBBS, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses the challenges and benefits of electronic consults (e-consults) for patients with cancer currently undergoing treatment who have a comorbidity history or who develop an endocrine system disorder because of treatment.

Through the integration of a population health reimbursement model in 2020, Allina Health Cancer Institute was able to implement expanded screening initiatives through the use of artificial intelligence and precision medicine, according to Mike Koroscik, MBA, MHA, vice president of oncology, Allina Health.

This group of cancers remains a challenge to diagnose, can be rapidly progressive, and requires complex treatment and follow-up care, research suggests.

A 2022 yearlong initiative at Summa Health Cancer Institute saw 100% of its patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation treatment referred to an oncology dietician for nutritional support and/or speech and swallow therapy.

According to the National Cancer Institute, in the year following a cancer diagnosis, the average cost of medical care plus medication exceeds $42,000, with some treatments having a price tag of more than $1 million.

Pinky, a mobile mammography unit from Stony Brook University Hospital Cancer Center on Long Island, increased screening for breast cancer from 9% to 69% among the predominantly Latina population that it serves.

Mike Koroscik, MBA, MHA, vice president of oncology, Allina Health and the Allina Health Cancer Institute, discusses the successes and challenges of a population health reimbursement model and gives advice for other health organizations considering a similar partnership within their practices.

Afreen Idris Shariff, MD, MBBS, director at Duke Endo-Oncology Program, Duke Endocrinology, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses how e-consults are addressing specific endocrine immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), reducing time to appointment, and lowering the need for hospitalization.