Here’s what’s coming up in the March issue of JOP:
· “Performance Appraisal: A Tool for Practice Improvement,” by Dean Gesme and Marian Wiseman
You may be among the many oncology practices without an appropriate performance review systems in place. Not having an effective evaluation system increases the risk of inefficiency, poor office morale, and high turnover rates.
· “Clinical Investigator Responsibilities,” by Allison Baer
When conducting a clinical trial, it is important that clinical investigators successfully meet all research expectations, including regulatory requirements and the guidelines for Good Clinical Practice.
· “Off-label use of rituximab in a multi-payer insurance system,” Eliezer Van Allen, et al
The frequent use of rituximab for off-label indications should lead to improved post-approval FDA surveillance of biologics so that use can be adequately studied, and will also facilitate improved regulatory mechanisms to ensure evidence-based use.
· “American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update Recommendations on the Role of Bone Modifying Agents in Metastatic Breast Cancer,” by Sarah Temin, et al
The Journal of Clinical Oncology recently published American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)'s update to its guideline on the use of bone modifying agents for patients with bone metastases, the scope of which was narrowed to the use of bone modifying agents for patients with evidence of bone metastases.
· “Survivorship Programs and Care Plans in Practice: Variations on a Theme,” by Erin Hahn and Patricia Ganz
This study looks at four Los Angeles-based cancer survivorship programs, and finds that the Institute of Medicine-recommended survivorship care plan document can be successfully adapted for use in varied settings, from primary care to hospitals, to inform and educate both patients and providers.
· “Ontario Protocol Assessment Level: Clinical Trial Complexity Rating Tool for Workload Planning in Oncology Clinical Trials,” by Bobbi Smuck, et al
The Ontario Protocol Assessment Level (OPAL) protocol complexity rating scale provides an objective method to quantify clinical trials activity based on study protocol complexity leading to increased workload. With consistent application of OPAL, sites can manage staffing objectively.
The March issue of
JOP posts mid-month. For more information and other exciting
JOP news, visit
http://jop.ascopubs.org.