Updated 31 October 2008
TERMS OF REFERENCE
BC Family Practice Oncology Council
Authority
The Office of the President of the BC Cancer Agency.
Purpose
To assist the BCCA in its mandate to improve cancer control in the province by overseeing the planning, implementation and promotion of activities of the Family Practice Oncology Council’s Working Groups and Network. Council members will provide guidance on matters relating to improved patient care by family physicians. The scope of activities will include involving general and family practitioners in patient education (health promotion), oncology screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, palliative care and research. The Council will also consider mechanisms by which general and family practitioners can be supported in their roles as community resources for cancer control as well as for other chronic and complex diseases.
Roles and Responsibilities
1. Family Practice Oncology Council
Provides direction to Working Groups and Network.
- Establishes Working Groups.
- Sets priorities for the Working Groups and Network.
- Supports the development of an informal network of all interested family physicians in BC.
- Participates in, and facilitates, when required the activities of the Working Groups regarding communication projects, the preceptorship program initiatives, continuing medical education initiatives and research projects.
- Works to evolve into the larger primary care initiatives (federal and provincial).
- Evolves into other areas of chronic disease management.
Ensures the provision of timely and equitable oncology care for patients in communities.
- Guides the development of family practice oncology guidelines.
- Improves the provision of oncology care for patients by supporting family physicians.
- Establishes a network to facilitate the integration of community family physicians into the cancer treatment system.
- Promotes activities to enable continuity of care for cancer patients and their families.
- Identifies and implements activities to ensure effective follow-up care for cancer patients.
Provides evaluation and outcome assessment of its activities.
- Provides direction for activities and evaluates of the Council, Working Groups and Network activities.
- Performs annual performance review of the Council, Working Groups and Network.
- Links Council activities to measures of improvement and community health care.
Provides communication, information dissemination and liaison functions
- Provides and disseminates information about oncology activities in a timely manner to family physicians and the Health Authorities through the website, videoconferencing and newsletters.
- Liaisons with the Ministry of Health (including the provision of regular reports).
- Recommends representatives for BCCA Tumour Groups.
- Liaisons with Health Authorities.
- Seeks and secures financial support for Council and Working Group activities.
- Sources of funds include government, health authority and granting organizations.
2. Family Practice Oncology Council Working Groups
- Each Working Group creates a detailed Work Plan with defined goals and action items
- Each Working Group is responsible for completion of activities as indicated in Work Plans.
3. Family Practice Oncology Network
Membership
1. Family Practice Oncology Council (should not exceed 20 members)
- President, BC Cancer Agency – Ex Officio
- Family Physicians from each Health Authority
- A clinic associate from each Cancer Centre (Victoria, Surrey, Vancouver, Kelowna)
- Representatives from the Council Working Groups (can be a Clinic Associate) -Communication -Preceptorship Program - Continuing Medical Education -Research
- UBC Department of Family Practice Chairman (or designate)
- UBC Faculty of Medicine: Continuing Medical Education
- Ministry of Health Representative (Jeff Rowlands or Deputy Minister Representative)
- Medical, Radiation, Surgical Oncologists
- Chronic Disease Community Representative (Healthy Heart Society)
- Administrative Representation from at least two Cancer Centres
- Other health professionals providing primary care
2. Executive Committee
The purpose of the Executive Committee of the Council is to ensure decisions can be made in a timely manner. Its members include the Council’s Co-Chairs, Working Group Chairs, one person from a chronic disease area other than cancer and a BCCA Executive Representative, and BCCA President as Ex-Officio.
3. Family Practice Oncology Council Working Groups
Comprised of interested family physicians, clinic associates, medical and radiation oncologists and others.
4. Family Practice Oncology Network
Membership is informal and consists of all interested physicians in BC accessing cancer information by various communication tools.
Chair
The Council will be co-chaired with one Chair from the Lower Mainland and one Chair from another Health Authority.
Quorum
Fifty percent (50%) plus one.
Length of Term
Council and Council Executive members will be appointed for an initial term of 2 years with the possibility of renewal for 1 year. (Membership will be appointed in an alternative fashion to ensure consistency of the Council’s member.) (Initially 50% will be appointed for 1 year and 50% for 2 years)
Schedule of Meetings
1. Family Practice Oncology Council
Three times per year or at the call of the Co-Chairs. (February/June/November)
2. Council Executive Committee
Meets frequently every one to two months, at the call of the Co-Chairs.
3. Council Working Groups
Frequent meetings as required to accomplish goals and action items.
Support Staff
Return to the main Council page.