Surveys and Supplements

Year three of the Association of Community Cancer Centers' member survey provides insight into how cancer programs are working to control costs, implement new standards, launch new organizational strategies, and better serve patients. This is a joint project between ACCC and Eli Lilly.

ACCC's Cancer Nutrition Services: A Practical Guide for Cancer Programs pulls together practical strategies, replicable models of nutrition programs underway at ACCC member programs, and tools for developing or enhancing your cancer program's nutrition services. Available in print and online.

Results from a survey by the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) suggest that administrators within the nation’s cancer programs are generally satisfied with their positions, although many report the economy is affecting their ability to access the capital needed to acquire new technologies or expand services. Salaries are up.

The second year of an annual ACCC survey designed to identify and compare trends in conditions and organizational performance in the oncology marketplace. The survey provides ACCC with information to assist members in evaluating their organizations' performance. The survey will be conducted annually for three years, and is a joint project between ACCC and Eli Lilly.

To identify and compare trends in conditions and organizational performance in the oncology marketplace, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) initiated an annual survey of its membership in July 2008. The survey provides ACCC with information to assist members in evaluating their organizations’ performance. The survey will be conducted annually for three years, and is a joint project between ACCC and Eli Lilly.

In February and March 2009, ACCC encouraged cancer program administrators employed at ACCC-Member Cancer Programs to take an online survey. Slightly more than 19 percent (130 institutions) responded to ACCC's survey.

Breast Care-Related Articles 2008—2009

• Building a Center of Excellence
• The Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center
• Building a State-of-the-Art Breast Imaging Facility
• Developing a Multi-site Breast Care Network
• Making the Transition to Digital Mammography

Breast Care-Related Articles 2004

• Creating a Successful Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference
• Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Model Breast Center
• Comprehensive Breast Care Programs: What’s in a Name?
• A Model Breast Care Center at George Washington University Medical Center
• The Role of a Breast Cancer Nurse Case Manager

In 2008 ACCC and Covance Market Access Services, Inc., released a final report on the "Impact of Payer Coverage and Reimbursement Policies on Off-Label Use of Anticancer Therapies." The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) also helped develop the survey.

In March 2007 ACCC surveyed its close to 1,000 Oncology Pharmacy Education Network (OPEN) members. A total of 144 responses were received. The survey was sponsored by Cardinal Health.

As a treatment process, image-guided radiation therapy has been in use for several decades. In recent years, as a result of advances in computer technology hardware and software applications, IGRT technology has reached new levels of sophistication. Here is a brief look at how Varian's Dynamic Targeting IGRT technology was implemented and is now being used at both freestanding and hospital-based programs.

Two model programs, reimbursement outlook, developing a financial proforma, and more.

New technology can differentiate your cancer center. Four technologic innovations in diagnostic radiology that hopefully will help advance earlier colon and possibly lung cancer detection, enhance efficiency and patient throughput, improve staging, and ultimately may help direct more effective treatment strategies.

Nutrition and Cancer: An Overview for Clinicians
This special supplement addresses the principles and practice of nutritional oncology into an integrated approach to cancer care.

• Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) Form
• Worksheets for PG-SGA Scoring
• Functional Assessment of Anorexia Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) Questionnaire

Great strides have been made in developing programs and setting universal guidelines for screening and treating cancer-related pain. To keep readers current, ACCC provides an update on the current trends in oncology pain management and offers assessment tools, strategies, and techniques to reduce patient pain and discomfort.