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Auxiliary Strategy List
Montana Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2006-2011

Updated June 2009

PREVENTION

1. Support skin cancer protection policies to help reduce skin cancer incidence and mortality rates.
2. Increase cost effectiveness of cancer prevention.

EARLY DETECTION

1. Increase cost effectiveness of cancer screening/prevention.
2. Increase awareness of genetic screening for medical service providers.
3. Increase awareness of genetic screening for the public.

TREATMENT

1. Research strategies/tools to encourage providers/oncologists to develop and communicate the care plan with the patient. Convey these strategies/tools to all providers involved, including complimentary medicine providers and out of state referrals; consider a “check list” that is cancer-type specific. Improve the informed consent process for cancer patients, improve communication of options, risk, benefits, etc, and consider a template for providers.
2. Design and support legislation that changes the health care system to improve conflict resolution methods, implement malpractice reform, promote trust of physician judgment; and support efficiency, early intervention and cost issues.
3. Promote cost-effective care. Make data on efficiency available to providers in a clinically relevant format.
4. Advocate for appropriate reimbursement from all payers, and promote systematic improvements in the reimbursement of cancer care.
5. Make available step-by-step protocol using statistical information for families of newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients to follow in accessing regional childhood cancer centers to determine the most appropriate location for treatment.
   1. Establish a committee to collect and analyze statistical information on regional childhood cancer centers.
   2. Develop a step-by-step protocol using information collected from the committee.
   3. Promote the protocol and develop a plan to disseminate the information to all newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients.
6. Incorporate into Goal III Objective III.1 as a new strategy: "Strategy 5: Assess and improve availability, accessibility, and timely utilization of cancer treatment services for pediatric populations."

RESEARCH

No auxiliary strategies at this time

QUALITY OF LIFE

1. Define appropriate Mind/Body/Spirit assessment of patients and families:
   1. Assessment of spiritual needs.
   2. Religion versus spirituality
   3. End of life versus quality of life
   4. Identify providers with psychological expertise with cancer patients and families.
2. Establish Patient Bill of Rights talking points:
   1. Use existing resources and brochures to develop one page talking points for Patient Bill of Rights for physicians, nurses, administrators, community volunteers and churches on an as needed basis.
   2. Community based focus groups
3. Provide resources for transition and follow-up care after childhood cancer treatment ends.
   1. Determine gaps in services and develop strategies to address disparities, barriers and fill gaps.
   2. Develop a plan to work with the Montana Cancer Registry to disseminate the information to all newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients.

DATA, REGISTRY & SURVEILLANCE

1. Collaborate with NRIS (Natural Resources Information Center) to utilize geo-coded cancer data.

ADVOCACY

No auxiliary strategies at this time

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