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2007 Oncology Registry Report
Comments from the Cancer Committee Chair

Roger Gingrich, MD
Cancer Committee Chair

As chair of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Committee, I am pleased to present the annual report for our cancer program on behalf of the committee. We are a multidisciplinary NCI-designated ACoS CoC-approved cancer program with a goal to continually meet individual needs of our patients and families.

Our Cancer Committee is a dedicated group made up of 27 members who represent all specialties and departments within University of Iowa Health Care who participate in cancer care. We meet monthly with an attendance roster and minutes to discuss and evaluate all aspects related to quality improvements and care for our patients. We provide follow-up on topics as necessary.

Two of our most recent quality goals were:

  • “Tuning Up for Pay for Performance” – This was a formal beginning to upgrading the monitoring and improvement of quality in the Cancer Center.
  • “Development of a Breast Health Center” that would combine women’s breast health issues and the Cancer Center. This was a process of defining both a structure and function within the Cancer Center to provide quality care for women with a breast problem not yet defined as a cancer. 

I am happy to report both of these projects are moving forward nicely with the Breast Health Center to open in early 2008 and the “P4P” project now fully outlined and seeking funding for personnel needed.

The Cancer Committee continues to study the concept of the 'comprehensiveness' of cancer care.  Programmatically, we are working to enhance the function of our disease/site oriented interdisciplinary care teams called MOGs or multidisciplinary oncology groups.  Goals include developing a survivorship program and more fully developing a psycho-social program exploring the potential for geriatric oncology services.

As chair of our medical center’s Cancer Committee for the past seven years I have been privileged to see the phenomenal efforts provided by Cancer Center personnel at every level to those who seek a measure of comfort or cure from their cancer – this being the essential mission of our Cancer Center.  I am personally committed, as the Chair of the Cancer Committee, director of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship training program and chair of the scientific review committee for cancer clinical trials, to creating in our Center the “perfect storm” against cancer.


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Last modification date: Thu Jan 3 12:23:42 2008
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