The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), the Advanced Practitioners Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO), and the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) are proud to announce a collaborative effort to identify and address practice gaps in the treatment of anemia in adults with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Two HOPA members are serving on a multi-disciplinary advisory committee assembled by ACCC to provide strategic guidance for this project.
The initiative will provide support and guidance to community hematologists/ oncologists on the risk-stratification of MDS, selection of evidence-based and novel therapies for the management of anemia in patients with lower-risk MDS, and on best practices for improving and maintaining quality of life in patients with low-grade MDS.
As a part of this initiative, focus groups will be conducted with hematology/oncology professionals at academic and community cancer centers to compare practice patterns in supportive care therapies for the MDS patient population. Special attention will be paid to the impact of social determinants of health inequities on access to guideline-concordant care.
The findings from the focus groups will be used to inform educational and quality-improvement projects at three cancer centers focused on integration of evidence-based treatment options for anemia in patients with lower-risk MDS.
The learnings from the quality improvement projects and the subsequent aggregation of best practices will be disseminated through the networks of the collaborating organizations, HOPA, APSHO, and ACCC, to further extend the reach of this initiative.
The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) supports hematology/oncology pharmacy professionals and promotes the role of the pharmacist in collaborative cancer care. Founded in 2004, HOPA provides crucial education, networking, and advancement opportunities frequently sought by pharmacists, pharmacy interns, residents, fellows, students, technicians, researchers, and administrators who specialize in hematology/oncology pharmacy. Its vision is to ensure that all individuals affected by cancer have a hematology/oncology pharmacist as an integral member of their care team.
Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO) is a nonprofit membership organization consisting of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, clinical nurse specialists, and advanced practice nurses, all working in oncology. APSHO aims to improve the quality of care for patients with cancer by supporting critical issues in educational, clinical, and professional development for advanced practitioners in hematology and oncology.
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community. Founded in 1974, ACCC is a powerful network of more than 30,000 multidisciplinary practitioners from over 2,000 hospitals and practices nationwide. As advances in cancer screening and diagnosis, treatment options, and care delivery models continue to evolve—so has ACCC—adapting its resources to meet the changing needs of the entire oncology care team. For more information, visit accc-cancer.org. Follow us on social media; read our blog, ACCCBuzz; tune in to our CANCER BUZZ podcast; and view our CANCER BUZZ TV channel.