Improving timely identification and referral of patients who may be eligible for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is critical for improving outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies. On February 7, 2024, ACCC hosted a virtual Working Summit: Advancing CAR T-Cell Therapy Care Continuity and Collaborative Patient Education to explore topics including patient and caregiver needs as well as care coordination between referring providers and certified CAR T-cell therapy...

The 4R Oncology® Model facilitates enhanced patient engagement and timely care provision by streamlining delivery of complex interdependent care. Implementation of the 4R Oncology® model in breast and lung cancer clinics has improved patients’ involvement in organizing their care, enabled the development of high-functioning multidisciplinary care teams, and helped to optimize the timing and coordination of sequence of care. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Raymond Liu, MD, director of...

While advancements in oral medicine are improving the treatment landscape for head and neck cancer, routine dental care and preventative oral cancer screenings can help identify head and neck cancers early. In this episode, Alessandro Villa, DDS, PhD, MPH, chief of Oral Medicine, Oral Oncology, and Dentistry at Baptist Health South Florida’s Miami Cancer Institute, emphasizes the proactive role dentists can play in early identification of cancer—as well as the need for equitable access to...

Advancements in clinical data and research have shown the immunotherapeutic potential of bispecific antibodies as treatment for hematologic cancers and solid tumors. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Aaron Cumpston, PharmD, pharmacy clinical specialist for bone marrow transplant and Christine Barrett, PharmD, BCOP, medical oncology clinical pharmacy specialist who discuss the challenges of care coordination and therapy and share operational best practices for the delivery of bispecific...

As the need for access to guideline-concordant biomarker testing for underserved populations continues to grow, hear what care teams need to know about coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries and the legislative outlook for 2024. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Hilary Gee Goeckner, MSW, director of State and Local Campaigns for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ASC CAN), who shares policy perspectives and the latest on state legislation to expand coverage for biomarker...

The ACCC Oncology Reimbursement Meetings (ORMs) help all members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team navigate the annual changes in oncology reimbursement and regulations— while improving their knowledge on effective strategies for success in an everchanging oncology landscape. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jordan Karwedsky, financial counselor, Green Bay Oncology, about her session at the ORMs last fall, where she discussed best practices cancer care teams can adopt as they...

While social determinants of health can impact access to care and treatment options for many patients with cancer, when combined with the complexities of acute myeloid leukemia, these factors become critical to treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Linda Hayward, patient financial advocate at the University of Maryland, Kaufman Cancer Center at Upper Chesapeake Health, about the challenges of treatment and strategies to address...

Maintenance therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly those who are ineligible for transplant, can be critical to treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Thomas LeBlanc, MD, hematologic oncologist, associate professor of Medicine, and associate professor in Population Health Sciences at Duke Cancer Institute, about the importance of keeping patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first remission as long as possible...

On March 1, 2024, ACCC elected a new president and board of trustees for the 2024 -2025 term. CANCER BUZZ interviews outgoing President, Lekan Ajayi, and incoming President, Nadine Barrett, about their respective ACCC President’s Themes, the programs and resources ACCC developed in the past year, the state of the oncology workforce, ACCC’s role in improving health equity, the Association’s 50th Anniversary, and more.   Guest:   Lekan Ajayi Immediate Past President, Association of...

Live this week from the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS), CANCER BUZZ features an update from the White House on the Biden Cancer Moonshot program.  Speaker: Dr. Catharine Young Assistant Director of Cancer Moonshot Engagement Policy and International Engagement White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Resources:  Cancer Moonshot  ACCC Post: Moonshot Highlights from the President’s Cancer Panel: Building on a Strong Legacy  

Live this week from the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS), CANCER BUZZ interviews Dr. Sarah Hudson-DiSalle, member of the Reimbursement and Economics Subcommittee of ACCC’s Governmental Affairs Committee, about this week’s Hill Day, when members of ACCC met with Capitol Hill offices to advocate on behalf of patients.  Guest:  Sarah Hudson-DiSalle, RPh, PharmD Assistant Director of Infusion Reimbursement The James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, Ohio Issues...

Live this week from the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS), CANCER BUZZ interviews Krista Nelson, ACCC past president, about the new Institute for Comprehensive Cancer Care Services and resources for cancer centers to implement these services. Guest:  Krista Nelson, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW Program Manager of Quality & Research, Cancer Support Services and Compassion, Providence Health & Services  Resources:  Comprehensive Care Services Institute...

Live this week from the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS), CANCER BUZZ interviews Dr. Mandi Pratt-Chapman about new patient navigation payments.    Guest:  Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MD  Associate Center Director for Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity Associate Professor of Medicine Associate Professor of Prevention and Community Health George Washington Cancer Center   Resources:  Patient Navigation FAN Guidelines Assessment Tool...

Live this week from the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS), CANCER BUZZ interviews Wendi Waugh, ACCC financial navigation committee member, about resources for financial advocacy.   Guest: Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, CTR Administrative Director, SOMC Cancer Services & Ambulatory Infusion, Southern Ohio Medical Center   Resources: ACCC Financial Advocacy Network Financial Advocacy Guidelines Financial Advocacy Toolkit

 Recent advancements in treatment and a multimodal approach to care are improving outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer, however access to therapies and unique patient challenges due to disease symptoms, difficulty eating, difficulty communicating, and other psychosocial factors can reduce patient quality of life. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG, registered dietician and head and neck program navigator at Sharp Memorial Hospital and Brittney...

Founded in 2019, this inclusive lab is comprised of 42 members ranging from undergraduates to faculty from 12 different countries, most of whom self-identify as women and/or individuals who are under-represented in medicine. This virtual lab meets monthly to discuss projects, grants, and future collaborations. Joint research efforts focus on professional development of the health care workforce; cancer health disparities; diversity equity, and inclusion in medical education; and social...

Hereditary breast cancer is a significant concern, with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations accounting for many inherited breast cancer cases. However, a 2018 survey by ACCC revealed the underutilization of BRCA testing, showcasing a significant gap in care. In this podcast, Joy Larsen Haidle, Genetic Counselor at North Memorial Health Cancer Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, and Lillie Shockney, University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer, Professor of Surgery at Johns Hopkins...

#AdvocateHealth is leading the way in rebuilding its 150,000+ workforce post-pandemic. Recognizing wellness as an institutional imperative and creating a new C-suite role—Enterprise Vice President, Well-Being for All Teammates—underscores this commitment. In this podcast, Mila Felder, MD, FACEP, teases her keynote at the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit, why it’s important to attend this session in person, and what she’s looking forward to most at the meeting.   ...

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive disease whose management is complex and requires open communication amongst a multidisciplinary care team. It has a high rate of relapse, with up to 40 percent of patients relapsing within the first two years after primary treatment. Management of a patient with DLBCL begins with prognostic evaluation of the disease and assessing the potential adverse effects of treatments. It should be followed by evaluations of physical, physiological,...

As the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy continues to expand as an effective treatment for hematologic malignancies, understanding how to identify eligible patients early and implementation of an effective framework for identification can improve care coordination and better prepare community cancer programs for widespread use of CAR T-cell therapy. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with David L. Porter, MD, director of Cell Therapy and Transplant at Penn Medicine, about...

The aging US population is predicted to drive an increase in cancer incidence of almost 50% by 2050. At the same time, some cancer programs face capacity and resource constraints—which will continue to increase as demand for cancer services rises. Many cancer programs are also facing significant challenges with patient access. This podcast explores 4 pillars for creating a differentiated patient experience: access, navigation, digital health, and health equity. The end goal for both cancer...

Health technology performance and integration of electronic health record (EHR) systems—the creation of interfaces between EHRs and reference labs performing biomarker testing— have become critical factors in conducting efficient and equitable biomarker testing at cancer programs nationwide. At ACCC’s 40th Annual National Oncology Conference, an exclusive EHR Working Summit was held to understand barriers to integrating biomarker testing into EHR systems and explore effective...

In 2020, this community-based cancer program started laying the foundation for a disease-site specific oncology patient navigation program that would grow exponentially over the next 2 years. In addition to a rapidly growing patient caseload, nurse navigator responsibilities grew extensively, largely due to increasing physician and system support of the program and role. To date, this 3-person oncology nurse navigator team has received over 2100 referrals from more than 259 providers.  ...

Since 2014, the widespread use of germline and somatic testing in gynecologic oncology has dramatically increased. The use of genetic testing can support actionable changes which may influence treatment decisions. Test results can inform risk for other malignancies and prompt preventive screenings for at-risk relatives. Despite an increasing awareness of the benefits of genetic testing, many patients are not receiving consistent or equitable testing. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Melissa Frey, MD,...

Coordination of care for patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly those who are ineligible for transplant, can impact access to specialist care, clinical trials, and cancer programs with advanced capabilities to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Geoffrey Uy, MD, professor of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Leukemia at Washington University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and Khoan Tuong Vu, MD, hematologist...