Michigan Cancer Consortium Michigan Cancer Consortium
Search:  Organizations working together to reduce the impact of cancer!
 
 

MCC Spirit of Collaboration Awards,
By Year - 2004

Go directly to:

2004 MCC Spirit of Collaboration Awards
Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Screening
Free Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening
Mercy Supportive Care Services
The Michigan Basic Pathology Lexicon Project
Prostate Cancer Action Committee
2004 MCC Spirit of Collaboration Awards — Honorable Mention
Dialogue for Action: Fulfilling the Promise of Colorectal Cancer Screening in Michigan
Increasing the Number and Diversity of Patients Who Enroll in Cancer Clinical Trials

Every year since 2001, the Michigan Cancer Consortium has presented its highest honor — the MCC Spirit of Collaboration Award — to member organizations that have done outstanding collaborative work to significantly move comprehensive cancer control activities forward in our state. During the 2004 MCC Annual Meeting, the following organizations were presented with 2004 MCC Spirit of Collaboration awards in recognition of their exceptional work leading collaborative efforts on behalf of the MCC Initiative.


Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Screening
MCC priority objective addressed: Colorectal Cancer

Collaborative partners in the project:

Project description: The Michigan Association of Health Plans, along with many of its members and partners, collaborated on this three-year pilot project for the ultimate purpose of increasing the public's, as well as the professional's, awareness of the importance of colorectal cancer screening.

The project had four objectives:

  1. use a single audit methodology to obtain baseline information about CRC and screening rates among participating health plans;
  2. introduce scientifically based interventions to the public and providers;
  3. evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions; and, subsequently,
  4. improve provider practice patterns for colorectal cancer screening.

A final report is planned for 2004; the data from the report will be used to provide direction to health plan quality directors for the purpose of implementing continuous quality improvement activities among their provider base.

Return to top of page


Free Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening
MCC priority objective addressed: Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancers

Collaborative partners in the project:

Project description: This project evolved from a previous Michigan Department of Community Health-funded project that analyzed five Michigan counties, including Cheboygan County, with high cervical cancer rates. The Northeast Michigan Cancer Coalition (NMCC) committed itself to continuing this work, but with a focus on five counties south of Cheboygan County: Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, and Presque Isle.

The Coalition's goal was to provide 200 free screenings over the course of eight planned screening sessions. By working with medical professionals, registration and billing departments, marketing, hospital vendors, local community health centers, and local service groups, the Coalition achieved its objectives. In addition, three breast cancers and two cervical cancers were detected. Furthermore, based on the data collected, their efforts met a deep need: 27.7 percent of the women had never had a mammogram; 34 percent of the women did not have a health care provider; and 60 percent of the women had some type of abnormality in the breast or cervix.

Currently, the NMCC is looking at ways to secure funding in order to continuing to offer free screenings on an annual basis.

Return to top of page


Mercy Supportive Care Services
MCC priority objective addressed: End-of-Life Care

Collaborative partners in the project:

  • St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital
    • Departments participating:
      • Amicare Home Health Care
      • Cranbrook Hospice
      • Michigan Cancer Institute
      • Ministerial Healing
      • Pharmacy
      • Rehabilitation
      • Clinical Resource Management
      • Patient Care Services

Project description: Mercy Supportive Care Services (MSCS) is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental team that provides pain and palliative care services at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac. MSCS has grown out of a commitment made in 2000 to create a culture in which suffering (in patients, families and staff) is not acceptable, and comfort is achieved for mind, body and spirit.

The ultimate goal of this internal partnering has been to change the hospital culture and to provide a standard of excellence in pain management and end-of-life care.

Among the improvements seen since the initiation of the project:

  • inpatient consult requests increased from 200 in 2000 to 700+ in 2003, with over 2,300 patients served since inception;
  • average pain level reported at time of MSCS consult in 2001 was 8.4, dropping in 2002 to 5.3; and
  • before discharge or death, pain scores are reported at being below 2 using a 1 - 10 scale.

As a result of their successes, MSCS is held as a model of palliative care for other hospitals within the Trinity Health System.

Of further note is the fact that the American Health Association recently recognized MSCS as one of 10 U.S. winners to receive the association's Circle of Life Award.

Return to top of page


The Michigan Basic Pathology Lexicon Project
MCC priority objective addressed: Basic Lexicon

Collaborative partners in the project:

Project description: The goal of this collaboration is to improve, statewide, the efficiency, completeness and quality of pathology reports for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer by producing a field-tested basic pathology lexicon.

In 2003, this collaboration developed and received consensus on a basic pathology lexicon for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Subsequently, in the fall of 2003 through 2004, efforts were shifted toward getting the basic pathology lexicon tested and evaluated at facilities statewide. This was accomplished by holding meetings regionally - in Lansing, Marquette, and Traverse City - and in large health care facilities that offered videoconferencing. At these meetings, pathologist volunteers were solicited to pilot test the lexicon template and provide feedback on it.

As a result of these regional meetings, the project promoted "buy in" and fostered further collaboration with pathologists and other professionals who might otherwise not have become involved. As such, the lexicon template is being evaluated in numerous facilities statewide. Future plans involve developing, testing and adopting basic lexicons for other cancers.

Return to top of page


Prostate Cancer Action Committee
MCC priority objective addressed: Prostate Cancer

Collaborative partners in the project:

Project description: The Prostate Cancer Action Committee (PCAC) has worked to address the information needs of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. The result of their efforts is the excellent patient education tool, Making the Choice: Deciding What to Do About Early Stage Prostate Cancer.

Designed as a decision-making tool or aid, Making the Choice is written in plain language and provides unbiased and complete information on treatment options and associated side effects. It is available as a booklet, in audio (CD and cassette) format, and online at either www.prostatecancerdecision.org or www.michigancancer.org.

The PCAC is currently working on disseminating this patient decision-making aid, as well as evaluating its effectiveness.

Return to top of page

Honorable Mentions
The Consortium also recognized the efforts of the following organizations with the presentation of 2004 MCC Spirit of Collaboration Honorable Mention Awards for their leadership of exemplary collaborative projects on behalf of the MCC Initiative and comprehensive cancer control efforts in Michigan.

Dialogue for Action: Fulfilling the Promise of Colorectal Cancer Screening in Michigan
MCC priority objective addressed: Colorectal Cancer

Collaborative partners in the project:

Project description: The initial product of this collaboration is the conference "Dialogue for Action: Fulfilling the Promise of Colorectal Cancer Screening in Michigan."

The Sept. 9-10, 2004 conference was designed to bring together cancer leaders in a highly interactive process to further the colorectal cancer priority objective within Michigan's cancer control plan. Collaborative partners include local, state and national leaders, each focused on a vision of reducing colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality by increasing screening rates through innovative strategies.

The outcome of the conference will be the development of an action plan to increase colorectal cancer screening.

Return to top of page


Increasing the Number and Diversity of Patients Who Enroll in Cancer Clinical Trials
MCC priority objective addressed: Clinical Trials

Collaborative partners in the project:

Project description: The Cancer Clinical Trials Office of William Beaumont Hospital has joined with researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan to expand the opportunities for these researchers to recruit from a larger and more diverse population. Alternately, patients benefit from this arrangement as they receive enhanced care by those who work with them while on study protocol.

Although this arrangement started by collaborating on two studies, it is anticipated that collaborations on future clinical trials will occur.

Return to top of page
last updated: 03/08/05

Page Divider
Washington Square Building, 5th Floor · 109 Michigan Ave. ·
Lansing, Michigan USA 48913
Toll-Free: (877) 588-6224 · Fax: (517) 335-9397 · Email Address

Tell us what you think about this Web site. Take our survey.

Copyright 2000-2008, Michigan Cancer Consortium
 
Editorial Policy · Disclaimer · Site Index