Results from a partnership to address disparities and enhance the quality of breast cancer care at Memphis-based West Cancer Center & Research Institute were announced.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. & THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a partnership to address disparities and enhance the quality of breast cancer care at Memphis-based West Cancer Center & Research Institute were announced today. The program is sponsored by Amgen.
“Our goal is to reduce breast cancer-related mortality disparity rates of Black women in the Memphis area, where the current disparity rate is approximately 70 percent – which means that Black women are dying from breast cancer at approximately three times the rate of White women,” said Carla Baker, COO, at Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium (MBCC), adding “By developing a patient centric care pathway, MBCC plans to systematically address the root causes of disparities.
The creation of the Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium (MBCC) in 2016 marked the first phase of an innovative, comprehensive, aligned, and intentional community-wide effort to address the higher mortality rates of Black women versus Caucasian women in the Memphis metropolitan area.
MBCC currently represents 38 member organizations including survivor groups, consumer advocacy groups, health systems, universities, health plans, the Shelby County Health Department, and the Tennessee Department of Health.
The purpose of the Care Pathway Initiative was to conduct baseline quality metrics of variation in care with the overall aim to enhance quality of care. Rabble Health, a digital patient engagement company, conducted the assessment of 81 breast patients regarding their ability to receive optimal care and services. Following the baseline assessment, solutions to improve health literacy and patient empowerment were highlighted, including the myRabble™ digital patient engagement platform.
“The data from Margaret West Comprehensive Cancer Center, a facet of West Cancer Center, was remarkable”, said Aubrey Kelly, CEO of Rabble Health, adding, “As a full-service institution, many breast cancer patients treated at West were able to have a mammogram and biopsy the same day if needed. In cancer, every day counts, and patients should be provided the tools and resources to connect, understand their options, communicate goals of care, and manage through their diagnosis. Care pathway efficiencies can translate to optimized care and potentially improved outcomes.”
Preliminary findings include a call to action for breast centers to address disparities in care by measuring adherence and improvements in quality measures and health literacy.
Dr. Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, a breast medical oncologist at West, shared “To make a significant impact in health care disparities, our health care institutions have to take an unbiased look at their data, polices and practices. We are pleased to see independent data confirming the exceptional service we provide for all our West Cancer Center patients. We hope this approach can be replicated at other institutions to help address disparities incare across our beloved city.”
Following these findings, the West Cancer Center is excited to continue the care pathway analysis and embark on key patient education and engagement solutions to improve health literacy and shared decision making.
About West Cancer Center & Research Institute:
West Cancer Center is an independent, comprehensive adult cancer center guided by physicians to provide the most outcome-driven, research focused oncology care to all patients, regardless of socioeconomic status. With over 40 years as leaders in oncology, 156+ specialists, 7 locations and 47,000 patient visits in 2020 - West is positioned as the first choice for cancer care in the Midsouth and a national model for comprehensive care.
About Common Table Health Alliance:
Common Table Health Alliance (CTHA) is the administrative home of the Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium. CTHA has focused on healthcare equity and disparities for over 21 years. Read more at www.commontablehealth.org.
About Rabble Health:
Rabble Health, a digital patient engagement company, is on a mission to address the information crisis in complex disease. The company’s product line, myRabble™, serves as a patient engagement solution designed to address health disparities in the cancer setting. myRabble™ empowers patients to have more choice, clarity, and connection as they manage through a cancer diagnosis. Read more at rabblehealth.com.
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SOURCE Rabble Health
