New Alliance Infographic: Eliminating Barriers to Care in Oncology

BARRIERS TO CARE can affect a person’s ability to access patient-centered cancer care. What are some of the most commonly reported ones?

Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from across the six Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care grantee sites to better understand their perspectives on their most important accomplishments, challenges faced, and lessons learned in their work to improve care coordination and access to care.

Some of the questions touched on health disparities, with grantees sharing their experiences and those of their patients. They described a wide variety of factors that influence a person’s ability to access high-quality, equitable cancer care. We collected some of their most common responses here.

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Grady Cancer Center Recognized for High-Quality Cancer Care by ASCO

One of the six Alliance sites, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Health System, has been awarded QOPI® certification by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc.

The Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Health System has been recognized by the QOPI® Certification Program LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®), as successfully completing a three-year certification program for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care. The QOPI® Certification Program builds on ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®).

Continue reading at the Grady Health System website.

Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Opens a Survivorship Clinic

The Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady launched the Survivorship Clinic in partnership with Dr. Wilhelmina Prinssen, MD, FAAFP, Medical Director of the Asa Yancey Health Center. The clinic ensures that all cancer survivors, including high-risk patients, smoothly transition from specialized oncology care back to primary care.

Last March, The Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady launched the Survivorship Clinic, in partnership with Dr. Wilhelmina Prinssen, MD, FAAFP, Medical Director of the Asa Yancey Health Center. The Grady Survivorship Clinic leverages partnerships with primary care physicians to gain access to tools in the primary care environment while sharing Cancer Center information with the Grady Neighborhood Clinics. The site boasts a 100% initial participation rate, and Grady is working on expanding services and monitoring long-term compliance.

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Alliance featured in Merck story, “Charting a New Course in Cancer Care”

While there have been significant advancements in cancer treatment, many cancer patients still do not receive the help they need.

The Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care is highlighted in Merck’s featured story “Charting a New Course in Cancer Care.” The story includes information and profiles on Alliance program partners, as well as an overview of Alliance goals.

Continue reading at the Merck Foundation website.

U-M School of Nursing to Lead National Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care

The $15 million effort, funded by the Merck Foundation, will take a multifaceted approach to improving patient-centered care, support and outcomes.

ANN ARBOR, MI. – The University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) has been selected to serve as the National Program Office (NPO) for the newly-formed Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care (Alliance). It brings together a coalition of six influential academic health centers to help improve the delivery of care for cancer patients.

Continue reading at the UMSN website.

Merck Foundation Announces Six Program Grant Recipients for Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care

Alliance Aims to Reduce Disparities in Access to High-Quality Cancer Care

KENILWORTH, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Merck Foundation (Foundation), announced today the selection of the six program sites and National Program Office forming the Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care (the Alliance). With $15 million in funding from the Foundation over five years, the Alliance aims to increase timely access to patient-centered cancer care for vulnerable and underserved populations in the United States.

Continue reading at the Merck Foundation website.