The region known as Appalachia stretches 250,000 square miles and includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states. Of Appalachia’s 420 counties, 25 percent are rural. Approximately 25.7 million people call the region home. The poverty and lack of healthcare resources that characterize this area have led to sustained, elevated levels of morbidity and mortality for many diseases, including cancer. Compared to other regions in the U.S., Central Appalachia has the highest cancer rate in the region at 32 percent higher than the national rate. Since the start of the pandemic, Americans have missed nearly 10 million recommended cancer screenings.
In response to the need for cancer screening and care in Appalachia, ACCC—together with several of its state chapters—launched the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance (the Alliance) in December 2021. This project is a partnership with several state oncology societies representing the Appalachian region. The focus is on improving patient and operational cancer outcomes by identifying effective evidence-based practices that can be replicated throughout the region.
An interactive map was designed for health professionals in a region of rural Appalachia to locate essential services for people who need lung cancer screening or who are living with lung cancer. With the ability to toggle between map layers, users can easily customize the view to suit their needs.
Accurately identifying eligible patients for lung cancer screening is critical to early detection and improved outcomes. This webinar provides an overview of current screening guidelines, best practices for calculating pack years, and effective approaches to discussing smoking cessation. Participants will also learn how to connect patients with evidence-based tobacco cessation resources to support their journey toward quitting.
Patient hesitation about lung cancer screening is common, but shared decision-making (SDM) can help overcome resistance by fostering open, informed conversations. This ACCC webinar will explore SDM principles, reimbursement policies, and practical strategies to engage patients, address concerns, and encourage active participation. Attendees will learn how to guide patients toward informed screening decisions. Join us to enhance your approach to patient conversations and ensure informed, value-based choices in lung cancer screening.
Faculty experts will share the role of nurse navigation in transitions of care including coordination between primary care and oncology, interdisciplinary communication, rural versus academic transitions, and health literacy and education. The experts share how nurse navigation can make important impacts including promoting early detection through LDCT screenings, bridging incidental findings between disciplines, and engaging the caregiver community.
This webinar explores how patient navigation services enhance lung cancer care by guiding patients through each step of the care continuum, from screening to diagnosis and treatment. Join us as experts share the benefits of patient navigation, including the positive impact on care teams and patients, as well as recent CMS reimbursement support. Through real-world case examples, discover actionable strategies that have helped other cancer programs successfully integrate patient navigation into their practice.
ACCC was identified by the White House's Cancer Moonshot initiative as one of the five private sector actions in response to the goal of Bringing Cancer Screening to More Communities through its Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative.
The Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative seeks to increase lung cancer screening rates by identifying and addressing informational, literacy, and cultural barriers that inhibit rural Appalachian residents from seeking preventative cancer care. Partnering with local advocates, the initiative focuses on developing and implementing new patient-centric approaches to promote the importance of these screenings. Best practices identified by the initiative will be shared with ACCC members and the broader oncology community.
On 13 of March, Michael Gieske, MD; Mary Reid, PhD, MSPH; and Richard Martin III, MD, MPH joined our LinkedInLive event to give us closer look at the Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative through thought-provoking discussions.
If you have any questions about either the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance or the Rural Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.
This January, ACCC invites its membership to take part in promoting cervical cancer awareness by sharing resources and research about the importance of the HPV vaccine and regular screening, to work towards a future free of cervical cancer.
In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, ACCC spotlights the ongoing need for more robust research, expanded treatment options, and early diagnosis and intervention for a disease that, though it impacts millions of lives, is often under-discussed.
ACCC held a LinkedIn live event on March 13, 2023, with subject matter experts, who shared strategies for tackling lung cancer disparities in the Appalachian Region and beyond.
ACCC is recognizing National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by highlighting the importance of cancer screenings and early detection.
Dr. Richard Ingram shares why he got involved in ACCC's Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance and why it's so important for this initiative to collaborate closely with primary care providers in the region.
The Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance is in partnership with:
The Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative is in partnership with:
The Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance is made possible by support from Bristol Myers Squibb.
The Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative is made possible by support from AstraZeneca.
