Series Description:

In-line with Standard 2.5 of the Optimal Resources for Cancer Care 2020, the cancer program of Memorial Medical Center of Modesto holds weekly interprofessional case conferences to evaluate oncology patient monitoring, management, and care plan recommendations. Attendees include physician representation from surgery, pathology, radiology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology as well as oncology nurses, nurse navigators, cancer registrars, clinical research associates, psychosocial providers, rehabilitation providers, and other allied health professionals. Components of the multidisciplinary discussion include, but are not limited to, clinical and/or pathological staging, treatment planning using evidence-based national treatment guidelines, options and eligibility for research studies or clinical trial enrollment (where applicable), options and eligibility for genetic testing services (where applicable), and recommendations and eligibility for supportive care services.

Target Audience: 

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse, Registered (RN)

Physicians (MD or DO)

Social Workers (SW)

Pharmacists (Pharm D)

Learning Objectives - After Attending This Activity Learners Should Be Able To:

1. Apply current evidence-based recommendations to facilitate improved outcomes for patients diagnosed with or currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
2. Design and apply treatment plans agreed upon by interprofessional consensus during the care conferences.
3. Demonstrate improved cancer care management through collaboration with interprofessional colleagues, and communication of shared perspectives, expertise, and experiences.
4. Identify available clinical trials or support resources that patients may be eligible to participate in or receive.
5. Discuss strategies to improve oncology outcomes impacted by social determinants of health or the impact of clinician implicit biases.

Culturally Appropriate Care which is Free of Implicit Biases (AB 1195 & 241):

1. Yedjou, C., Sims, J., Miele, L. Noubissi, F., Lowe, L. Fonsea, D., Alo, R., Payton, M. & Tchounwou, P. (2019). Health and racial disparity in breast cancer. Adv Exp Med Biol; 1152: 31-49. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6941147/
2. Penner, L., Dovidio, J., Gonzalez, R., Albrecht, T. Chapman, R., Foster, T., Harper, F., Hagiwara, N., Hamel, L., Shields, A., Gadgeel, S., Simon, M., Griggs, J. & Eggly, S. (2016). The Effects of Oncologist Implicit Racial Bias in Racially Discordant Oncology Interactions. Journal of Clinical Oncology; 34(24): 2874-2880. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5012663/#:~:text=Results,remembering%20contents%20of%20the%20interaction
3. Brown, M., & McElroy, J. (2017). Sexual and gender minority breast cancer patients choosing bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction: “I now have a body that fits me”. Women & Health;58(4). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03630242.2017.1310169
4. Wang, M., Huang, J., & Chagpar, A. (2020). Is there a bias against obese patients in the treatment of breast cancer? The American Surgeon; 88(6). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0003134820984877
5. US Department of Health & Human Services. (2021). Healthy People 2030; Social Determinants of Health. Washington, D.C. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health

Disclosure of Financial or In-Kind Commercial Support & Conflict of Interest

No one involved in the planning or presentation of this educational activity have any relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. No financial or in-kind commercial support was received to produce or promote this educational activity. 

 – Provider Designee/Verification:  Kerri Maya, MSL, RN