In Pursuit of Quality

In Pursuit of Quality

Jonathan S. Berek, MD, MMedSc, FASCO

Aug 27, 2013
Pursuing quality measurement and quality improvement in cancer care are now mainstream expectations for the oncology community. All of us should be taking steps to ensure that quality standards are implemented at our institutions and practices, not only because quality measurement plays a role in physician reimbursement but also because it’s “the right thing to do for patients,” as longtime quality champion and ASCO Past President Dr. Douglas Blayney says in our cover story on the topic.

The Society has always taken a leading role in promoting quality care as a core part of its mission. Ten years ago, ASCO took a significant step in that direction by launching the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) to help practices implement standards and improvements. Last year, the organization took the next big leap by establishing the Institute for Quality. In this article, we offer you a closer look at ASCO’s newest department, the expert volunteers who provide its vision and guidance, and its host of resources, including QOPI, the Quality Care Symposium, Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the breakthrough rapid learning initiative, CancerLinQ™.

One of the many ways we can bring quality to our patients is by working to ensure that we are not overtreating. Our Current Insights in Oncology column addresses this issue with the argument that radioactive iodine treatment for patients with low-risk thyroid cancer provides little benefit. “Quality” emerges as a theme in a number of articles, including “Discussing Sexual Health with Patients” and “Genomics: What a Fellow Needs to Know.

If you attended this year’s Annual Meeting in Chicago, you may have noticed film crews roaming the halls and sessions. Producers of an upcoming documentary on the history of cancer based on the book The Emperor of All Maladies chose ASCO’s Annual Meeting as a location for its premier access to world-renowned experts and research. I’m happy to report that we have an exclusive interview with the producer of the film, Barak Goodman, who discusses his narrative-based approach to depicting a “biography” of this disease.

I am also very pleased to be one of this year’s recipients of the Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) distinction. Please see the list of other honorees.

As always, thank you for reading.

Reprinted from the September 2013 ASCO Connection ‘From the Editor’ column.

Disclaimer: 

The ideas and opinions expressed on the ASCO Connection Blogs do not necessarily reflect those of ASCO. None of the information posted on ASCOconnection.org is intended as medical, legal, or business advice, or advice about reimbursement for health care services. The mention of any product, service, company, therapy or physician practice on ASCOconnection.org does not constitute an endorsement of any kind by ASCO. ASCO assumes no responsibility for any injury or damage to persons or property arising out of or related to any use of the material contained in, posted on, or linked to this site, or any errors or omissions.

Advertisement
Back to Top