Recommendations Support Cancer Care Nova Scotia
An evaluation by three external experts has endorsed Cancer Care Nova Scotia for achieving “an excellent beginning” and recommends that further development of cancer treatment guidelines be accelerated.
The evaluators complimented the Department of Health, Dalhousie University and the Capital District Health Board for developing "this unique approach to cancer care."
The report called for more progress on treatment standards and guidelines, for changes in how the agency is governed and for stronger cancer screening programs. They said the most urgent issues lie in developing guidelines and standards for diagnosis and treatment, and in implementing reviews of the way professionals practise cancer care.
"We strongly support the need for a provincial cancer agency, and Cancer Care Nova Scotia is to be commended for the substantial progress it has made in less than three years," said Dr. Eldon Smith, evaluation team chair and professor and former dean of the University of Calgary.
Serving on the team with Dr. Smith were Dr. David McCutcheon, president and CEO of Sunnybrook and the Women’s Health Science Centre in Toronto; and Brian Schmidt, chief operating officer of the British Columbia Cancer Agency.
The issues will be addressed through the ongoing development of cancer site teams. Cancer site teams are made up of groups of cancer clinicians who specialize in cancer of a particular anatomical site, such as breast cancer. Recruitment of professionals from across the province to sit on these teams will be stepped up.
"Cancer Care Nova Scotia commissioned this external expert evaluation to help us meet the needs and expectations of the public, cancer patients and their families," said Dr. Andrew Padmos, commissioner of Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "We will be carefully examining these recommendations, especially those identified for urgent attention."
A key recommendation was that the Cancer Care Nova Scotia board should be given legislated authority for the quality of cancer care in the province, reporting to the Minister of Health. It is currently an advisory board, although it develops and operates programs by consensus.
"We’re very pleased that the evaluators have endorsed Cancer Care Nova Scotia," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "Now we’ll look closely at how Cancer Care Nova Scotia can better serve patients, families and clinicians to reduce the burden of cancer in this province."
Cancer Care Nova Scotia started in 1998 and is mandated to co-ordinate, evaluate and strengthen the cancer system in Nova Scotia. It works with stakeholders to bring about patient-centred change. Its ultimate goal is to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals, families, communities and the health-care system.