Website helps prostate cancer patients track health info and manage their disease

The BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre in partnership with the University of Victoria is conducting a research study piloting an innovative new website which investigators hope will give men the information they need for better decision-making, and help them to cope better with their journey through cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

The website, called PROVIDER (an acronym for Prostate Cancer Patient Internet-based Delivery System of Electronic Medical Records), allows men to navigate to their personal profile and to access up-to-date medical records, a summary of their treatments, medications and appointments through the BC Cancer Agency.

The website is secure, encrypted, password protected and also includes computer-based monitoring and decision support aids. Approximately 25 men with prostate cancer will have an opportunity to sign up for this study and use the website for a period of  six months. The site was developed by Dr. Howard Pai, a radiation oncologist at the Vancouver Island Centre, inspired by his colleague Dr. Charles Ludgate, in close collaboration with Drs. Francis Ho and Francis Lau with the School of Health Information Science at the University of Victoria. Co-investigators at the Agency include Dr. Paul Blood, Stephanie Soon, and Maria Cristina Barroetavena.

“There are some patients who are information seekers and want to be active participants in the decision-making process,” says Howard. “We believe that when patients are informed and more involved in decision-making, they feel more engaged, less distressed, and more satisfied with their care.”

“Prostate cancer patients in particular tend to be information-seekers and often use the Internet to acquire medical knowledge” says Howard. “But often the information they find on the Internet or by other means may be too generalized and out of context or not applicable in their particular case.”

The medical records posted on the website are those which are routinely provided to patients requesting paper copies of their health records. However, the advantage of the website is that information is instantaneous, it can be customized and provided in an easy to view format, and it is updated every 48 hours.

Other features of the PROVIDER website:

• Men can track their prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels during treatment and follow-up.
• A clinical trial eligibility screening tool, where patients’ cancer and personal information are automatically matched to the eligibility criteria for particular research studies.
• A powerpoint presentation which mirrors a live patient tutorial session given at the Vancouver Island Centre for patients on hormone therapy, which may be of particular valuable for patients living further out from a cancer centre.
• Various viewing modes for personal health records including a desktop calendar format, with an option for men to request appointments at the Agency.
• A psychosocial screening tool called P-Scan that can monitor an individual’s level of distress, and guide him to support services if needed.
• A general education section which includes additional resources, background educational material and a glossary of commonly used prostate cancer terms.

However, according to Howard, “the real point of this study is not to showcase the tools and applications available using computers, but to determine the feasibility, usefulness, patterns of usage and level of satisfaction with providing patients timely access to their own medical records. There is definitely a patient demand out there and we have an obligation to meet those needs beyond the traditional role of paper-based systems."

If you’re interested in learning more about PROVIDER, please contact Dr. Howard Pai at hpai@bccancer.bc.ca or 250.519.5576 or his research assistant Stuart Jones at SJones2@bccancer.bc.ca or 250.519.3573. 

Advancing Strategic Direction #1
Sustain and advance the BC Cancer Agency's system of cancer control.

BC Cancer Agency launches pilot Pap Test Week

The BC Cancer Agency, in partnership with local clinics, launched B.C.’s first Pap Week from May 5 to 12, 2008 to improve women’s access to cervical cancer screening by connecting them to clinics offering pap tests in their communities.

Women in the Lower Mainland were encouraged to walk into participating clinics without an appointment on designated days to have a Pap test. The goal of Pap Week this year was to bring at least 100 women into participating clinics.

“We are looking forward to receiving the evaluations completed by our partner clinics and women who dropped in for a Pap test last week. We will base our decision to broaden the program on the feedback we receive,” says Dirk van Niekerk, medical leader for the BC Cancer Agency's Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

“I was impressed, as always, by the professionalism and teamwork of BC Cancer Agency staff to co-ordinate this innovative pilot project, and to clinics for coming on board without hestitation. I would like to thank everybody who helped support our first Pap Test Week.”

For a copy of the full press release, please visit:
www.bccancer.bc.ca/ABCCA/NewsCentre/2008/
papweekvancouver.htm  

Advancing Strategic Direction #3
Support regional centres, regions and communities with the implementation of provincial cancer control programs and the integration of knowledge.

Accreditation news

Over the next year, you’ll be hearing more about the Agency’s accreditation process, which will culminate in June 2009 with an accreditation survey and report providing an external assessment of our organization.

In the next few weeks, staff from throughout the Agency’s four regional centres will be receiving and completing the Canadian Council on Health Services (CCHSA) self-assessment surveys in seven standard areas. These are: cancer care and oncology services, cancer population, proactive and supportive organization, medication management, infection prevention and control, diagnostic imaging, and the operating room.

In addition, the CCHSA introduced 25 required organizational practices (ROPs) in 2005 (after the Agency's last accreditation) which are mandatory for an unconditional accreditation. The 25 ROPs focus on six patient safety goal areas: culture, communication, medication use, work life/workforce, infection control, and falls prevention.

“The 25 ROPS are the common denominators of successful organizations,” says Rosmin Esmail, director, Quality, Safety and Risk Management, BC Cancer Agency. “The ROPS relate to additional safety practices that are applicable across the care continuum within an organization.”

For example for communication, there are six required ROPs. Specifically, the CCHSA will be asking, does an organization:

• Inform and educate patients/clients and/or family about their role in patient safety, using both written and verbal communication.
• Employ effective mechanisms for transfer of information at interface points, including shift changes; discharge; and patient/client movement between health care services and sectors, and implement improvements.
• Implement verification processes and other checking systems for high risk care/service activities, including ordering and receiving the results of critical tests; administering surgical or other invasive procedures; diagnostic testing; medication use; and implement improvements.
• Reconcile the patient’s medications upon admission and with the involvement of the patient.
• Reconcile medications with the patient at referral or transfer, and communicate the patient’s medications to the next provider of service at referral or transfer to another setting, service, service provider, or level of care within or outside of the organization.

“The ROPs are very detailed, and we are required – as a high-performing organization – to have safety processes and practices in place to not only achieve, but continuously improve upon them,” says Rosmin.

In the next few weeks, a group will be established to review the ROPs. Project teams may then be formed to address specific ROPs.

For more information about accreditation or learn how you can become involved, please contact Rosmin at resmail@bccancer.bc.ca 

Advancing Strategic Direction #1
Sustain and advance the BC Cancer Agency's system of cancer control.

You're invited to a sneak peek of the new Abbotsford Centre

The BC Cancer Agency in collaboration with the Fraser Health Authority is inviting staff, volunteers and their families to a sneak peek of the new Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre on May 24 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (32900 Marshall Road, Abbotsford). The tour follows a defined route, and takes approximately two hours to complete. The 60,000 square metre facility - is a state-of-the-art facility, with the most recent technology - but it also provides a healing environment for patients, and a comfortable work space for staff. There's lots to see, so make sure you get an early start. Remember to bring your BC Cancer Agency identification.

Community eagerly awaits new hospital and cancer centre

On April 23, more than 250 people attended the BC Cancer Agency's public forum about the new Abbotsford Centre. In total, three public forums (two hosted by the Fraser Health Authority) were held for the community. The public will also be invited to an Open House at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by the BC Cancer Agency and the Fraser Health Authority.

Advancing Strategic Direction #1
Sustain and advance the BC Cancer Agency's system of cancer control.

The new president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation: Dr. David R. MacLean

I’m delighted to take this opportunity to say hello to you in the Link, having just joined the BC Cancer Foundation on May 1st as president and CEO.

As the head of a fundraising organization, my background as a practicing physician, epidemiologist, medical researcher and academic may surprise some of you.

I am originally from the other coast - Halifax - and have been based in Vancouver just over six years. I came to the West Coast to develop and head the health sciences faculty at Simon Fraser University – which naturally included some fundraising!

I learned a great deal about the BC Cancer Agency as a model of cancer care in Canada while chairing the Nova Scotia government’s task force on cancer care, and soon discovered that the Agency is head and shoulders above the rest.
Over the course of the last 20 years, I have been a researcher, policy advisor and program consultant in chronic diseases, including cancer, to the World Health Organization.

I learned a great deal about the BC Cancer Agency as a model of cancer care in Canada while chairing the Nova Scotia government’s task force on cancer care, and soon discovered that the Agency is head and shoulders above the rest.

Why did I choose the cancer field? Well, I think we are on a cancer frontier, that the way forward is research, and that B.C. is the leader in Canada.

I’m too old to become a cancer researcher – if I was 35 and knew what I know now, I would. But I can support research as a fundraiser, so I grabbed this opportunity.

Our focus at the BC Cancer Foundation is you – the Agency. You are our primary customer, as well as our partner.

I look forward to meeting you in the coming weeks and months and invite you to visit with me at any time.

David MacLean
604-707-5901; DMacLean@bccancer.bc.ca  

Advancing Strategic Direction #4
To ensure we have the resources to achieve maximal organizational effectiveness.