Ensuring Quality Cancer Care / Edition 1

by Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, Commission on Life Sciences, Institute of Medicine, National Cancer Policy Board, Joseph V. Simone

Overview

We all want to believe that when people get cancer, they will receive medical care of the highest quality. Even as new scientific breakthroughs are announced, though, many cancer patients may be getting the wrong care, too little care, or too much care, in the form of unnecessary procedures.

How close is American medicine to the ideal of quality cancer care for every person with cancer? Ensuring Quality Cancer Care provides a comprehensive picture of how cancer care is delivered in our nation, from early detection to end-of-life issues. The National Cancer Policy Board defines quality care and recommends how to monitor, measure, and extend quality care to all people with cancer. Approaches to accountability in health care are reviewed.

What keeps people from getting care? The book explains how lack of medical coverage, social and economic status, patient beliefs, physician decision-making, and other factors can stand between the patient and the best possible care. The board explores how cancer care is shaped by the current focus on evidence-based medicine, the widespread adoption of managed care, where services are provided, and who provides care. Specific shortfalls in the care of breast and prostate cancer are identified. A status report on health services research is included.

Ensuring Quality Cancer Care offers wide-ranging data and information in clear context. As the baby boomers approach the years when most cancer occurs, this timely volume will be of special interest to health policy makers, public and private healthcare purchasers, medical professionals, patient advocates, researchers, and people with cancer.

Editorial Reviews

Doody's Review Service

Reviewer: James A. Mailliard, MD (Creighton University Cancer Center)
Description: This book is a comprehensive analysis and review of the problems associated with establishment of quality cancer care in America.
Purpose: The editors attempt to cite all the facts contributing to the present status of cancer care, which is a valuable endeavor. The objectives are cited but no easy answers for worthwhile changes are included.
Audience: The audience would most likely be medical professionals, patient advocates, and cancer patients interested in changing the present complexities in cancer care.
Features: Most elements that contribute to quality cancer care are covered, and how to promote quality care is discussed. The editors and contributors provide a thorough analysis of problems that might be encountered. Ultimately, practical answers are difficult to find because of the complexity of the subject.
Assessment: I found the book to be very useful as the contributors point out many of the problems in achieving quality care. Practical and feasible remedies, however, are given rather short shrift perhaps because of the complexities involved in changing things for the better. An example of this might be the CCOP Program receiving mention but no emphasis as a likely mechanism for vast improvement in community cancer care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780309064804
Publisher:	National Academies Press
Publication date:	08/21/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.70(d)

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