Foundation Program Sites

Oncology (Cancer)

Award winners for Best Practices in Colorectal Cancer Screening

Read our Report and Recommendations

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. Washington State has wide variation in who has received appropriate colorectal cancer screening, with very low rates in some populations. This workgroup met from January to November 2020 and the Recommendations were adopted in November 2020.

Read our Charter

Workgroup Members

Member Title Organization
Rick Ludwig, MD (Chair) Chief Executive Officer Pacific Medical Centers
Patricia Auerbach, MD, MBA, FACP Chief Medical Officer, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, Employer & Individual, Medicare & Retirement UnitedHealthcare
Elizabeth Broussard, MD Gastroenterology Pacific Medical Centers First Hill
Jason Dominitz, MD, MHS National Director of Gastroenterology VA Puget Sound
Casey Eastman, MPH Content Lead, Breast, Cervical, Colon Health Program Washington State Department of Health
Bev Green, MD, MPH Senior Investigator, Family Physician Kaiser Permanente Washington
Tracey Hugel, MSN, RN Senior Clinical Program Consultant Regence
John Inadomi, MD Gastroenterology University of Washington Medicine
Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS Assistant Member, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinical Research Division Fred Hutch
Hagen Kennecke, MD Medical Oncology Virginia Mason
Val Simianu, MD, MPH Colon and Rectal Surgeon Virginia Mason
Julie Stofel Patient and Family Advocate  
Tammy Wild, MPH, RDN, LD, NSCA-CPT State Health Systems Manager American Cancer Society

 

Award winners for Best Practices in Oncology Care:

Read our Report and Recommendations

(Adopted March 2016)

Quality and cost of cancer care can vary greatly with significant differences in what patients experience in diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. This can lead to bad outcomes and high costs for patients and families. This workgroup met from May 2015 to March 2016 to make recommendations to improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary cost including:

  • Following the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Choosing Wisely recommendations to not use advanced imaging in the staging of early breast and prostate cancer at low risk of spreading and
  • That palliative care, aligned with individual patient goals and values, be offered alongside active anti-cancer care, as needed.

Supporting Materials

Oncology Care Charter
Oncology Care Public Comments
Health Care Authority Letter Accepting Oncology Care Report

Workgroup Members

Member Title Organization
Jennie Crews, MD Medical Director PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center
Bruce Cutter, MD Oncologist Medical Oncology Associates
Patricia Dawson, MD, PhD Director Swedish Cancer Institute
Keith Eaton, MD, PhD Medical Director, Quality, Safety and Value Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Janet Freeman-Daily Patient Advocate
Christopher Kodama, MD, MBA (Chair) President, MultiCare Connected Care MultiCare Health System
Gary Lyman, MD, MPH Co-Director Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research
Rick McGee, MD Oncologist Washington State Medical Oncology Society
John Rieke, MD, FACR Medical Director MultiCare Regional Cancer Center
Hugh Straley, MD Chair and Oncologist Bree Collaborative
Richard Whitten, MD Medical Director Noridian

Award winners for Best Practices in Oncology Care:

Read our Guidelines

(Adopted November 2020)

Chemotherapy and radiation to treat cancer can cause a wide variety of side effects. Patients frequently seek treatment for these side effects through the emergency department, indicating opportunity for better addressing patient needs throughout their disease course. The workgroup met from January to November 2020 and the recommendations were adopted November 2020.

Read our Charter

Meeting Materials

Date Materials
January 7 Agenda January 7
Bree Intro Slides
Bree Process
Charter Roster Draft January 7
February 4 Agenda February 4
Minutes January 7
Charter Roster Draft
March 3 Agenda March 3
Minutes February 4 
Charter Roster Draft
Nurse Phone Support Slides
April 7 Agenda April 7
Minutes March 3
Draft Recommendations
May 5 Agenda May 5
Minutes April 7
Draft Recommendations
June 2 Agenda June 2
Minutes May 5
Draft Recommendations
COSTaRS Remote Symptom Practice Guides
July 7 Agenda July 7
Minutes June 2
Draft Recommendations
COSTaRS Call Anaylsis Template
Sample Template for Nursing Calls
August 4 Agenda August 4
Minutes July 7
Draft Recommendations
OCM-OP Core Measure Set
November 3 Agenda November 3
Minutes August 4
Draft Recommendations
Oncology Care Public Comments

 

Workgroup Members

Name Title Organization
Hugh Straley, MD (Chair) Chair Bree Collaborative
Sibel Blau, MD Oncologist Northwest Medical Specialties
Andra Davis, PhD, MN, BSN Assistant Professor, Vancouver Washington State University
Gurpreet Dhillon, MBA Director, Hospice, Palliative Care and PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center Service Lines PeaceHealth
Stefanie Hafermann, DNP, BSN, RN, PHN Director of Program Development Regence
Blair Irwin, MD, MBA Oncologist Multicare Regional Cancer Center
Barb Jensen, RN, BSN, MBA Director of Oncology and Palliative Care Skagit Regional Health
Sasha Joseph, MD Medical Director of Medical Oncology Multicare
Laura Panattoni, PhD Staff Scientist Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research
Camille Puronen, MD Oncologist Kaiser Permanente Washington
Nancy Thompson, RN, MS, AOCNS Director, Quality & Clinical Practice Swedish Cancer Institute

Award winners for Best Practices in Prostate Cancer Screening:

Read our Guidelines

(Adopted November 2015)

Prostate cancer screening is variable and may expose men to increased risk of harm, increased cost, and lower quality of life. This workgroup met from February to November 2015 to recommends evidence-based best practice for prostate cancer specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening including that:

  • All men be evaluated by their provider for family history and factors that may elevate the risk of prostate cancer (e.g., sibling or parent with a prostate or breast cancer diagnosis, race).
  • To not do routine screening with PSA testing for average risk men 70 years and older, under 55 years old, who have significant co-morbid conditions, or with a life expectancy less than 10 years.
  • For primary care clinicians, two possible pathways, depending on the physician’s interpretation of the evidence.
    • Clinicians who believe there is overall benefit from screening with PSA testing should order this test for average risk men between 55-69 years old only after a formal and documented shared decision-making process.
    • Clinicians who believe there is overall harm from screening with PSA testing may initiate testing of average-risk men aged 55-69 at the request of the patient after a formal and documented shared decision-making process.
  • Only men who express a definite preference for screening after discussing the advantages, disadvantages, and scientific uncertainty should have screening with PSA testing.

Supporting Materials

Workgroup Members

Member Title Organization
John Gore, MD, MS Urologist, clinician, surgeon, researcher University of Washington Medicine
Matt Handley, MD Associate Medical Director, Quality and Informatics Group Health Cooperative
Leah Hole-Marshall, JD Medical Administrator Department of Labor & Industries
Steve Lovell Retired Patient and Family Advisory Council
Rick Ludwig, MD (Chair) Chief Medical Officer Providence Accountable Care Organization
Bruce Montgomery, MD Clinical Director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Eric Wall, MD, MPH Market Medical Director UnitedHealthcare
Shawn West, MD Family Physician Edmonds Family Medicine
Jonathan Wright, MD, MS, FACS Assistant professor of urology/affiliate researcher University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Award winners for Best Practices in Cervical Cancer Screening:

(Adopted July 2021)

While deaths from cervical cancer have decreased significantly, the percent of people with up to date screening remains at about 50-66% depending on age group. Appropriate, up to date, screening rates also vary based on race, region, and income resulting in disparities in incidence and mortality. This workgroup met through 2021.

 

Previous Meeting Materials

Date Materials
January 6 Agenda January 6
Charter and Roster
Cervical cancer final rec statement
February 3 Agenda February 2
Draft framework
Minutes January 6
March 3 Agenda March 3
Minutes February 3
Draft Framework
May 5 Agenda May 5
Minutes April 7
Draft Cervical Cancer Guidelines
July 7 Agenda July 7
Minutes May 5
Minutes July 7
Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations
Cervical Cancer Screening Public Comments

 Workgroup Members

Name Title Organization
Chair: Laura Kate Zaichkin, MPH Director of Health Plan Performance and Strategy SEIU 775 Benefits Group
Virginia Arnold, DNP ARNP Provider Neighborcare Health at Pike Place Market
Diana Buist, PhD, MPH Senior Investigator and Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute
LuAnn Chen, MD, MHA, FAAFP Senior Medical Director Community Health Plan of Washington
Colleen Haller, MPH Manager, Care Improvement & Clinical Integration Community Health Plan of Washington
Beth Kruse, CNM Midwife Public Health Seattle King
County
Jordann Loehr, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Toppenish Medical-Dental Clinic
Constance Mao, MD Associate Professor Emeritus, Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Washington School of Medicine
Sophia Shaddy, MD, Sandra White, MD Pathologist CellNetix Pathology