Developing national cancer survivorship standards to inform quality of care in the United States using a consensus approach

Developing national cancer survivorship standards to inform quality of care in the United States using a consensus approach

13 May 2024 | Michelle A. Mollica, Gina McWhirter, Emily Tonorezos, Joshua Fenderson, David R. Freyer, Michael Jefford, Christopher J. Luevano, Timothy Mullett, Shelley Fuld Nasso, Ethan Schilling, Vida Almario Passero, the National Cancer Survivorship Standards Subject Matter Expert Group
This study aimed to develop national standards for cancer survivorship care in the United States to guide quality care and evaluate survivorship programs. The National Cancer Institute and the Department of Veterans Affairs led the effort, collaborating with health and human services agencies. A consensus approach was used, involving three virtual meetings with experts in survivorship care, research, and health policy. The final standards include ten indicators in each of three domains: health system policy, process, and evaluation/assessment. The standards emphasize survivor-focused care, including processes to assess and manage physical, psychological, and social issues, and evaluation of patient outcomes and experiences. Specific indicators focus on developing a business model for sustaining survivorship care and collecting relevant business metrics to demonstrate the value of survivorship care to health systems. The standards can be used by health systems to guide the development of new survivorship care programs or to assess and improve existing programs. Given the variety of settings where survivors receive care, health systems must adapt these standards based on factors such as age-specific needs, cancer types, treatments, and health system resources. The standards aim to provide a comprehensive strategy for ongoing care for cancer survivors, addressing their varied symptoms and unmet needs. They serve as a blueprint for what survivors and their families can expect after a cancer diagnosis. The standards include policies for survivorship programs, care delivery processes, and evaluation methods. They also emphasize the importance of financial support, care transitions, and long-term follow-up. The standards were developed through a consensus process involving experts from various fields, including clinical survivorship care, research, implementation science, health policy, and survivor advocates. The final standards include ten indicators in each domain, reflecting the most important and feasible aspects of survivorship care. These standards are intended to be used by health systems to assess and improve survivorship care programs. The standards are voluntary and may not be covered by public or private health insurance. The study highlights the need for a sustainable business model for delivering survivorship care and the importance of long-term follow-up and evaluation. The standards also address the unique needs of different populations, including pediatric cancer survivors, adolescents and young adults, and older adults. The standards are intended to inform both clinical care and research, and they represent a key foundation for improving the delivery of survivorship care across the United States.This study aimed to develop national standards for cancer survivorship care in the United States to guide quality care and evaluate survivorship programs. The National Cancer Institute and the Department of Veterans Affairs led the effort, collaborating with health and human services agencies. A consensus approach was used, involving three virtual meetings with experts in survivorship care, research, and health policy. The final standards include ten indicators in each of three domains: health system policy, process, and evaluation/assessment. The standards emphasize survivor-focused care, including processes to assess and manage physical, psychological, and social issues, and evaluation of patient outcomes and experiences. Specific indicators focus on developing a business model for sustaining survivorship care and collecting relevant business metrics to demonstrate the value of survivorship care to health systems. The standards can be used by health systems to guide the development of new survivorship care programs or to assess and improve existing programs. Given the variety of settings where survivors receive care, health systems must adapt these standards based on factors such as age-specific needs, cancer types, treatments, and health system resources. The standards aim to provide a comprehensive strategy for ongoing care for cancer survivors, addressing their varied symptoms and unmet needs. They serve as a blueprint for what survivors and their families can expect after a cancer diagnosis. The standards include policies for survivorship programs, care delivery processes, and evaluation methods. They also emphasize the importance of financial support, care transitions, and long-term follow-up. The standards were developed through a consensus process involving experts from various fields, including clinical survivorship care, research, implementation science, health policy, and survivor advocates. The final standards include ten indicators in each domain, reflecting the most important and feasible aspects of survivorship care. These standards are intended to be used by health systems to assess and improve survivorship care programs. The standards are voluntary and may not be covered by public or private health insurance. The study highlights the need for a sustainable business model for delivering survivorship care and the importance of long-term follow-up and evaluation. The standards also address the unique needs of different populations, including pediatric cancer survivors, adolescents and young adults, and older adults. The standards are intended to inform both clinical care and research, and they represent a key foundation for improving the delivery of survivorship care across the United States.
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