Based on best available evidence, many individuals with cancer do not receive care known to be effective for their condition, says Dr William T McGivney, CEO of the American-based National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
McGivney, who is responsible for the development of NCCN programmes to enhance the quality of available cancer care, was the keynote speaker at Atlantic Medical Insurance Company’s cancer awareness seminar and luncheon at the British Colonial Hilton recently.
Established in 1995, NCCN is a non-profit alliance of 19 of the world’s leading cancer centres aimed at improving and facilitating access to cancer care for the greatest number of patients in need.
Member institutions see 10 per cent of all new cases in the United States each year, including 25-30 per cent of all paediatric patients.
“High quality care and low-cost treatment are among the greatest concerns for cancer patients and their families,” says McGivney, citing a 1997 Journal of Cancer report of a 43.2 per cent rate of brain and spinal cord lesion misdiagnoses.
“These misdiagnoses represent serious diagnostic
errors for therapy, quality of care and use of healthcare dollars.”
The NCCN Practice Guidelines for Physicians were designed to help curb this unfortunate phenomenon by measuring and monitoring the quality of care received by cancer patients and, according to McGivney, are now “setting the standard for clinical policy in cancer care.”
The more than 100 clinical practice guidelines cover not only management of cancer, but also address detection, screening and supportive care issues, McGivney advises.
The guidelines discuss about 95 per cent of all diagnosed cancers and are updated annually. In 1999, collaboration between NCCN and the American Cancer Society resulted in the development of Treatment Guidelines for Patients as a communicative tool to facilitate greater understanding between patients and their physicians.
The extent to which the guidelines are followed among physicians is measured and compiled by the NCCN Oncology Outcomes Database.
Lynda Gibson, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Atlantic Medical Insurance Company – the largest group insurer in The
Bahamas and sponsors of the cancer awareness seminar – says that health-care experts in recent years have seen an increase in the number of Bahamians with certain cancers. “The seminar was designed to educate our clients on available treatments. People are not getting the kind of care that they should.
We have for this reason structured our medical insurance plans to ensure that treatment is provided for our clients from the first diagnosis of this disease to post-traumatic counselling and care. At Atlantic Medical
we have a reputation for innovative health cover and customer service. We provide access to the world’s largest healthcare network and pharmacy plan now applicable in the United States and our clients have the reassurance of claims being settled in 5-7 working days. Atlantic Medical markets the Premier Health product which is a full service group health insurance plan covering local and overseas care.
Over 50,000 lives are protected by Premier Health’s far-reaching benefits which take care of you anywhere in the world.”
Atlantic Medical also partnered with the Cancer Society of The Bahamas on this seminar.
Dr Davidson Hepburn, a member of the Society’s Cancer Caring Centre development committee, says that the centre is well on its way.
“We’ve raised about one million dollars and we expect to have groundbreaking on the first of the year.”
The proposed centre will have ten rooms with full-time administrative staff, a doctor, nurses and security.
