ONS Connect - June 2008 - (Page 12)

“Our ultimate goal . . . is to show treatment parity for patients by race, ethnicity, income, and payer as are reflected in the cancer burden in our catchment area,” Erwin says. Disparities Among Races and Ethnicities in the United States African Americans • African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of cancer than Caucasians. • The incidence of colorectal cancer in African Americans is 17% higher than in Caucasians. Hispanics/Latinos • Hispanics/Latinos usually have a lower overall risk of cancer but higher risk of cancers caused by infections (e.g., cervical, stomach) than Caucasians. • Incidence rates for liver cancer in Hispanics/Latinos are double of those for Caucasians. Native Americans and Alaskan Natives • These groups have the lowest cancer survival rates for all cancers combined than any other racial or ethnic group. • Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in eight of the nine Indian Health Services areas. Asian Americans • Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian American women, who have higher rates of breast and cervical cancer because of a lack of screening. • The incidence of lung cancer is 18% higher among Southeast Asians than Caucasian Americans. American Cancer Society. (2007). Cancer disparities: Key statistics. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_Minority_Cancer_Unequal_Burden_ Sidebar1.asp Intercultural Cancer Council. (2001). American Indians/Alaska Natives and cancer. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs2.htm Intercultural Cancer Council. (2001). Asian Americans and cancer. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs3.htm “Oncology nurses at Emory Healthcare are actively involved in community education and assisting patients to navigate the healthcare system, regardless of their insurance status,” Gullatte adds. ONS member Maureen Kelly, RN, MS, OCN®, vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer at RPCI, agrees that navigators are needed. “Our patient navigator program is a huge success,” she says. “Oncology nurses in the breast clinic identify patients who have barriers to completing treatment for reasons such as cultural, finances, or other social issues and refer them to the navigator.” “Since 2006, the patient navigator program has decreased ‘no shows’ and cancellations by 40% in the breast clinic,” Erwin adds. Therefore, patients who might have gone without care or with fragmented care are receiving care as prescribed. RPCI hopes to expand the program to women with gynecologic cancers in the future. Although nurse navigation for patients with cancer has been used in clinics for some time (see the March 2007 issue of ONS Connect), RPCI has focused the work of a peer navigator on reducing barriers for minorities and the underserved. “Oncology nurses are also involved in identifying financial and other barriers patients needing cancer care may have at the point of patient access when they first contact RPCI,” Kelly says. “Once nurses have assessed a need, grant money is allocated to help pay for such items as medications, groceries, rent, etc. Without this assistance, these patients may feel they have to choose between accessing care and taking care of basic necessities when hit with an unexpected cancer diagnosis. . . . All New York state residents will be treated regardless of ability to pay.” 12 ONS CONNECT June 2008 http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_Minority_Cancer_Unequal_Burden_Sidebar1.asp http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_Minority_Cancer_Unequal_Burden_Sidebar1.asp http://www.iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs2.htm http://www.iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs3.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ONS Connect - June 2008

ONS Connect - June 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In They Have a Dream A Year in the Life—Month Six Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Manage Skin Toxicities Associated With EGFR Inhibitors Blood Test for Ovarian Cancer May Be 99 Percent Accurate Calendar of Events Working For You Staying On Top

ONS Connect - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.