Survivorship Care Plan Taskforce

The 2016-2020 Vermont State Cancer Plan has a goal to “Assure the highest quality of life possible for cancer survivors”. After completing active cancer treatment, cancer survivors need coordinated follow-up care to address late side-effects, as well as to promote healthy behaviors and early detection of recurrent or second cancers. Developing a survivorship care plan that includes a record of the patient’s cancer treatment and follow-up care recommendations is critical. A survivorship care plan should be used by cancer survivors and their primary care provider as a guide to ensure effective and continuous care takes place. (1)

Background

The VTAAC Quality of Life Workgroup chose the implementation of Survivorship Care Plans (SCP) as one of our primary actions. A sub-group was chosen to implement a survey of Vermont Cancer Centers to assess our progress in this area. With assistance from the Vermont Department of Health a telephone survey was created. After an initial call it was determined that Vermont’s smaller, non-Commission on Cancer (COC) Centers were not implementing SCPs. The final survey included 5 Vermont COC Centers. In addition, we added the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in NH as many Vermonters are treated there

Results

  • 5 of the cancer centers have implemented some form of SCPs for selected cancers – about 50% of all cancers.
  • The 2 larger centers use their Electronic Medical Records system to create SCPs; the others use the ASCO/Moving Forward program.
  • All responded that the time to create the SCP is a major stumbling block. Each center uses different staffing to create the SCP.
  • There is no common time when the SCP is presented to the patient.
  • None of the centers has developed a follow-up plan to see how patients or Primary Care Providers are using the SCP.
  • All 5 centers were interested in attending a session to “brain storm” solutions to overcoming SCP problems.

Next Steps

  • Share results with participating cancer centers.
  • Share results at VTAAC Annual Meeting in September.
  • Create a VTAAC meeting to share solutions, best practices.
  • VTAAC to work with centers to develop follow up surveys.

*If you would like to join our Survivorship Care Plan Taskforce, please contact coordinator@vtaac.org!