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Tumor Boards

Tumor boards, also known as multidisciplinary cancer conferences, provide prospective patient case review and assure quality of care evaluation related to diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, follow-up, prehabilitation and/or rehabilitation, and supportive care. Discussion includes, but is not limited to, sharing of expert clinical opinions and treatment recommendations; treatment decision made by attending physician and patient; and opportunities for clinical trial participation.

Disease-site-specific tumor boards focus on certain cancers, for example, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer. 

Molecular tumor board discussion centers around molecular biomarkers and appropriate treatments and clinical trials for patients with tumors that have these markers. 

FROM THE ACCCBUZZ BLOG

From Oncology Issues

  • Improving Care for Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
    Brendon Stiles, MD, et al.
    This ACCC education program shares key highlights from a national survey of thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists on the barriers that exist in the ideal management of patients with NSCLC.
  • Multidisciplinary Conference Case Planning in the Virtual Space
    Jonathan Treisman, MD, FACP
    Though tumor boards continue to be the standard for multidisciplinary conferences in most cancer programs, the evolving nature of medicine and the merging of individual provider organizations into large healthcare institutions have made this process impractical. Increasingly, traditional tumor boards are giving way to prospective multidisciplinary conferences that allow ongoing evaluation of a patient and patient participation in the discussion, improving shared decision making.
  • Improving the Tumor Board Experience: Collaborative Technology Streamlines Multidisciplinary Conference Coordination
    Chryl Corizzo, RN
    In 2018, as St. Tammany Cancer Center worked to continue its American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation, the cancer center was hosting five monthly conferences: biweekly breast, lung, gastrointestinal conferences, and a general conference.
  • Cost of Anti-Cancer Therapies Demands New Strategies for Decision-Making, Shared Responsibility, Communication
    By Amy Hindman
    As the price of new cancer treatments continues to rise, physicians in both the inpatient and outpatient settings need to factor cost as well as efficacy into treatment plans. Julie Kennerly-Shah, PharmD, MS, MHA, facilitates the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, determining which agents will be available to providers for treatment and if restrictions will be placed on those medications.
  • The SCOOP Program
    Christopher Koprowski, MD, MBA; Edith J. Johnson, PhD, MBA; Karen Sites, BSN, RN, OCN; and Nicholas Petrelli, MD
    The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute implemented the Supportive Care of Oncology Patients (SCOOP) Program, which developed and implemented a clinical pathway that improved the patient experience and reduced the cost of care in selective curative cases.
  • Best Practices for Implementing Cancer Immunotherapy in the Community
    The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) recently hosted live continuing medical education (CME)-certified learning workshops at two community cancer programs to review current barriers to immunotherapy implementation in the community setting. During the workshops, an expert faculty panel engaged participants in discussion on the challenges that they may face as they integrate immunotherapy into their clinical practice, as well as practical solutions and strategies they can apply to overcome these barriers. This article summarizes the guidance and information provided by the faculty on the various issues raised during the workshop discussions.
  • Compliance: Multidisciplinary Clinic Visits
    By Cindy Parman, CPC, CPC-H, RCC
    A multidisciplinary approach allows the formation of partnerships between expert professionals that extends beyond the boundaries of their individual specialties, reduces the potential for miscommunication, and eliminates the fragmentation of services that was once common in cancer care.
  • Expanding Our Reach
    By Joy Nakhla, RN, BSN, OCN; Viorela Pop, PhD; Lavinia Dobrea, RN, MS, OCN; Lawrence D. Wagman, MD, FACS; and Lars Anker, MD
    St. Joseph Hospital and St. Jude Medical Center combined their neuro-oncology conferences and used video technology to facilitate and improve provider collaboration between institutions. The working model evaluates and addresses current needs while allowing room for additional program growth, having a positive impact on the lives of patients and increasing engagement of physicians within the local community.
  • Development of an Outpatient Cardio-oncology Program
    By Laurie Walton Fitzgerald, MSN, RN, and Peyton Neilson, MSN, RN, OCN
    At University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, the Heart and Vascular Institute and the Kaufman Cancer Center have come together to create a cardio-oncology program that provides a patient-centered, multidisciplinary clinic for cancer patients during diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
  • Mind, Body, and Spirit
    By Barbara J. Wilson, MS, RN, AOCN, ACNS-BC; Sara Owens, BSN, RN, OCN; and Chad Schaeffer, MS, FACHE
    Read about the integrative and complementary therapies WellStar Cancer Network provides for its patients. These services act as a “hub for healing” at the new WellStar Cancer Center.