ACCC Quality Improvement Workshops Address the Need for Improved Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care

Brian Koffman, MDCM, MS Ed

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is pleased to announce that its Multidisciplinary Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care education project is conducting a series of quality improvement workshops to promote the optimal care and management of patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Through an application process, three ACCC-member cancer programs were selected to participate in custom-tailored quality improvement workshops. These one-day workshops bring together multidisciplinary cancer care teams to review their current processes and outcomes as they relate to team coordination, communication, and quality of care for patients with CLL. The following cancer programs participated in the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care Workshops:

• The Outer Banks Hospital, Nags Head, North Carolina
• Billings Clinic Cancer Center, Billings, Montana
• The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center — James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

A final report exploring barriers and solutions to optimal care of patients diagnosed and treated for CLL in diverse settings of care is planned for publication in spring 2020.

Due to its often-gradual development and symptomless nature, CLL is typically found unexpectedly during routine bloodwork. Depending on the level of lymphocytes in the blood, many patients are put on a “watch and wait” status and are followed by their primary care provider until their symptoms become critical and demand treatment. Many clinical trials that are exploring the efficacy of starting treatment before symptoms emerge.

These workshops are a continuation of an ACCC program, Multidisciplinary Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care, begun in 2018 in partnership with the CLL Society and with the support of a diverse committee of experts. The project launched with an effort to identify and provide guidance on key issues related to the optimal care of patients diagnosed with CLL across different practice settings in the community. ACCC developed an incidence profile map to pinpoint the prevalence of CLL diagnoses in the United States, including an overlay of where expert providers are located. Further, ACCC worked with key organizations to create a repository of resources that now serves as the central hub of CLL education and information.

“ACCC is uniquely positioned to address the unmet needs of CLL patients by ensuring their community of hematologists is up to date with the rapidly changing therapeutic CLL treatment landscape through quality professional educational programs,” said patient advocacy partner Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), MS Ed, Co-Founder, Executive Vice President, and Chief Medical Officer, CLL Society, Inc. To learn more about this opportunity visit accc-cancer.org/live-activities.

For details and to explore further CLL resources, visit accc-cancer.org/cll-care.

This project is sponsored by Pharmacyclics and Janssen.

For Media Inquiries:

Lori Gardner

Senior Director, Membership and Public Relations

301.984.9496, ext. 226

gardner@accc-cancer.org

For Project Inquiries:

Limaya Atembina

MSW Program Manager, Provider Education

301.984.9496, ext. 223

latembina@accc-cancer.org

About the Association of Community Cancer Centers

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community. Founded in 1974, ACCC is a powerful network of 25,000 multidisciplinary practitioners from 2,100 hospitals and practices nationwide. As advances in cancer screening and diagnosis, treatment options, and care delivery models continue to evolve — so has ACCC — adapting its resources to meet the changing needs of the entire oncology care team. For more information, visit accc-cancer.org or call 301.984.9496. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; read our blog, ACCCBuzz; and tune in to our podcast, CANCER BUZZ.