Oral cancer therapies for breast cancer offer many benefits such as convenience and effectiveness, but also can add financial burden. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Aimee Hoch, LSW, MSW, Oncology Financial Navigator at Grandview Health in Sellersville, PA. Hear as our expert discusses how and when to screen patients, and then connect them to available resources to better support patients' financial needs. This is the final episode of a four-part series.

"We like to focus on the cost of medication first, then zero in on the whole picture, such as what are the other out of pocket costs or copays." –Aimee Hoch, LSW, MSW

Aimee Hoch, LSW, MSW

Oncology Financial Navigator

Grandview Health

Sellersville, PA

Resources:

Addressing Challenges in Oral Therapies for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer

Evolving Standards of Care for Advanced HER2+ Breast Cancer

Financial Advocacy Playbook

Metastatic Breast Cancer Project

Patient Assistance & Reimbursement Guide Overview

Resource Library for HR+, HER- Breast Cancer

Live from the ACCC 39th National Oncology Conference, CANCER BUZZ interviews Erika DeBoer, the Chief Nursing Officer at Sanford Health, about the system's data-driven approach to manage clinical workforce scheduling and staffing needs. Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the country, is leveraging technology and exploring new care delivery models to solve workforce challenges, enhance nurse satisfaction, and improve patient quality outcomes. Learn more about how this health system is gleaning new insights into clinical workforce needs to optimize future staffing and scheduling decisions.

Minute 1:08

"Our traditional ways of doing things really weren't as effective as they could be. So, using data and analytics, as well as automating workflows, we've been able to optimize different ways of using our workforce, so they can focus their time and energy on taking care of patients."

Guest:

Erica DeBoer, RN, MA, CCRN-K, CNL

Chief Nursing Officer

Sanford Health

Resources:

Health Information Technology

Leveraging Pharmacy Informatics to Standardize Pharmacists' Review of Oral Oncolytics for Hospitalized Patients

ACCC Forum Focuses on Technology Solutions to Mitigate Workforce Shortages

Digital Solutions Connect Resources to Patients at the Right Time

Optimizing Your EHR: Real-World Experiences with Electronic Health Records

Live from the ACCC 39th National Oncology Conference, Lailea Noel, PhD, MSW, joins the CANCER BUZZ podcast to discuss the topic of her workshop today: building sustainable coalitions to support the cancer care community. During our conversation, Dr. Noel breaks down how to build trust and earn the respect of under-represented patient populations in the community, including Black, Latinx, Asian, and other people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, older Americans, and those who live in rural areas.

Guest: Lailea Noel, PhD, MSW Assistant Professor of Oncology & Health Social Work ACCC 2022-2023 Board Member Steve Hicks School of Social Work The University of Texas Dell Medical School LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes Austin, TX

Resources:

Health Equity

ACORI Call to Action Summit: Activating Equity in Community Oncology Research

ACORI Clinical Research Terms Glossary

3, 2, 1, Go! Practical Solutions for Addressing Cancer Care Disparities

Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance: Improving Cancer Care in Rural Appalachia

A Virtual Summit to Define the Role of Oncology Advanced Practitioners in Equitable Cancer Care Delivery: Executive Summary

Digital Patient Assistance Guide—Ep 11 [VIDEO PODCAST]

Billie J. Baldwin, MA, MSW, LCSW-C, joins CANCER BUZZ to talk about the development of Medstar's Regional Staff Support Program. This program, which was created to address burnout and improve retention rates, provides staff with an opportunity to participate in monthly employee celebrations, encourages peer-to-peer recognition, and enhances communication among associates. Since its implementation, providers and associates have given positive feedback about this program and regularly attend and participate in events.

"The most popular program is our Employee Celebration. It's held monthly and there's always a theme. One of the most popular things we do is tapping into people's childhood…It's just a fun 15-minute break." – Billie J. Baldwin, MA, MSW, LCSW-C

Guest:

Billie J. Baldwin, MA, MSW, LCSW-C

Manager Oncology Support Services Program

Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Cancer Institute

Resources:

Oncology Team Resiliency

Mini Z Burnout Survey Results: Assessing Stress Levels Among The Multidisciplinary Cancer Team

Mindfulness Meditation Series

[MINI-PODCAST] Ep 74: The Business Case for Hiring Oncology Social Workers

As the ACCC Financial Advocacy Network engages key stakeholders to update its Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines using a collaborative, consensus-based process, gaining buy-in across the oncology community at-large (e.g., the multidisciplinary care team, administrators, payers, and other organizations) is necessary to ensuring positive financial health for all patients with cancer no matter where they are receiving treatment.

Guest:

Wendy Waugh Administrative Director of Cancer Services & Ambulatory Infusion Southern Ohio Medical Center, SOMC Cancer Center

Please note that the Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines will be made available fall 2022.

Resources

ACCC Financial Advocacy Network

ACCC Updates Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines

Financial Advocacy Playbook

Financial Advocacy Toolkit

Advocating for Financial Health — [VODCAST] Ep 12

In 2018, ACCC developed the Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines to support cancer programs and practices by proactively addressing patients' financial concerns along the cancer care continuum, so patients can access high-quality care for a better quality of life. As the healthcare landscape continues to change and the role of oncology financial advocates evolves, the network sought to create new guidelines in 2022 for cancer programs and practices, using a collaborative, consensus-based process.

Guest

Lori Schneider Operations Manager Green Bay Oncology

Please note that the Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines will be made available fall 2022.

Resources

• ACCC Financial Advocacy Network
• ACCC Updates Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines
• Financial Advocacy Playbook
• Financial Advocacy Toolkit
• Advocating for Financial Health — [VODCAST] Ep 12

The successful integration of oral oncolytics into practice depends on collaboration of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to guide patients through treatment with optimal medical, financial, and psychosocial support. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Dr. Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Clinical Research at Fred Hutch in Seattle, WA. Hear as our expert describes process improvement strategies to successfully integrate oral oncolytics into practice, and highlights how patient goals can be included in treatment planning.

Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH

Associate Professor – Clinical Research Division - Fred Hutch

Associate Professor - Medical Oncology Division- University of Washington

Attending Physician – Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Seattle, WA

Resources:

• Blog: Integrating Oral Oncolytics into Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Practice
• Integrating Oral Oncolytics into Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Practice
• The Role of Pharmacy to Help Manage Patients with Cancer on Oral Oncolytics

As oral anticancer medications become a common treatment option, patient adherence to medication is essential to ensuring positive clinical outcomes. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Dr. Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Director, Center for Breast Cancer at the Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, and Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL. Hear as our experts examine challenges with oral anti-cancer therapies and provide methods to better support patients. This is the third episode of a four-part series.

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH

Director of the Center for Breast Cancer

Yale Cancer Center

New Haven, CT

Sandra Cuellar, Pharm.D., BCOP, FHOPA, FASHP

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy

Chicago, IL

Resources:

• Addressing Challenges in Oral Therapies for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer
• Resource Library for HR+, HER- Breast Cancer
• Evolving Standards of Care for Advanced HER2+ Breast Cancer
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Project

While remote monitoring platforms have been used effectively throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the burden on patients and healthcare facilities around the country, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn., has been using the technology in a different capacity—with its patients on CAR T-cell therapy. To avoid a lengthy inpatient stay, these patients are seen daily in Vanderbilt's outpatient clinic and then monitored virtually 24/7 at home or—for those who must travel to receive treatment—at their temporary lodging. The remote technology alerts cancer program staff of any significant changes in clinical status that would initiate a hospital admission.

Guest:

Brittney M. Baer, BSN, RNPatient Care CoordinatorVanderbilt University Medical Center

Resources:

Bringing CAR T-cell Therapy to Community Oncology Overview

CAR T-cell Practice Profile – Fox Chase Cancer Center

CAR T-cell Practice Profile – Billings Clinic Cancer Center

Gap Analysis: Bringing CAR T-cell Therapy to Community Oncology

IO Insight: Telemedicine and Cancer Care

Increased use of oral therapies means more freedom for patients with cancer, but also can lead to increased risks. CANCER BUZZ spoke to Tammy Smith, Family Nurse Practitioner for INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA, and Dr. Pearman Parker, Assistant Professor for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR. Hear how to educate patients and their caregivers about the risks and benefits to oral therapies for breast cancer. This is the second episode in a three-part series on breast cancer.

Tammy R. Smith, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner

INOVA Fairfax Hospital

Falls Church, VA

Pearman Parker, PhD, MPH, RN, PMH-BC

Assistant Professor

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Little Rock, AR

Resources:

• Addressing Challenges in Oral Therapies for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer
• Resource Library for HR+, HER- Breast Cancer
• Evolving Standards of Care for Advanced HER2+ Breast Cancer
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Project