AONN+ Leadership Council Shares Need for Complete Cancer Care Team

On March 30, 2021, the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) Leadership Council released key reasons why cancer care teams should be protected and thoughtful investment strategies for cancer programs and practices to help remain strong as they recover from the pandemic. After closely reviewing the pandemic's impact on cancer care delivery in 2020, the Leadership Council devised key reasoning for protecting the cancer care team and service line:

• Newly diagnosed patient volumes will increase along with diagnoses of advanced disease
• Cancer service line revenues will be impacted if care organization is not streamlined and efficient
• The navigation team (e.g., navigators, social workers, etc.) will be difficult to reassemble
• Navigation can address cancer disparities.

"With new testing and mitigation strategies being implemented and improved access to vaccines on the horizon, now is the time to proactively plan for the near future. With proper and realistic planning, members of the cancer care team can be well-positioned to serve their patients with cancer and their families as the pandemic begins to subside."

The AONN+ Leadership Council is led by Christian Downs, executive director of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, with support from Linda Fleisher, principal investigator at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lillie Shockney, co-founder of AONN+, Rani Khetarpal, vice president of Provider Partnerships at New Century Health, and Mandi Pratt-Chapman, associate center director of Patient-Centered Initiatives and Health Equity at George Washington Cancer Center.

For more information on the Leadership Councils' tips for a strong cancer care team post-pandemic, read the full announcement.

Posted 4/7/2021