Accomplishments and Activities

The Premier Health Cancer Institute continues to provide integrated, multidisciplinary care by strengthening its comprehensive, system-wide approach to care. This is accomplished through the collaborative efforts of its cancer programs at Miami Valley Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital (closed as of July 2018), Atrium Medical Center and Upper Valley Medical Center.

Certified Member of MD Anderson Cancer Network®

In summer 2019, MD Anderson Quality team members conducted the annual Site Safety surveys of both Premier Health and Dayton Physicians locations. The first visit focused on our Radiation Therapy facilities and quality processes in place; the second visit focused on ensuring our chemotherapy infusion areas and our pharmacies comply with the high standard of care expected of MD Anderson certified members. Through these visits, our teams had the opportunity to share the current practices in place to provide safe, comprehensive care to our cancer patients. MD Anderson team members provided positive feedback and shared additional suggestions to help us continue providing high-quality services.

Oncology Nurse Navigator Enhancements

This year we implemented new software technology for both our oncology nurse navigators and cancer registrars. One of the challenges our nurse navigators face every day is managing their reporting, so they can dedicate more time and energy to patients in their time of need. The use of oncology navigation software provides the necessary data to both illustrate the effectiveness of our navigation program and support the documentation needs of our nurse navigators. Sharing the same software and database with our cancer registry reduces duplication of work for case finding and entering treatment data between both teams. The new software has a patient-centric design, eliminating duplicative abstracting; it also provides interface capability with our current electronic medical record.

Premier Health also enhanced the oncology nurse navigator role and workflows by not only expanding the number of oncology nurse navigators but, redesigning the processes to help connect nurse navigators to our patients much sooner across all our cancer centers. These changes were identified and made to better meet the needs of our patients and to develop a close relationship throughout the patient’s cancer journey.

Cancer Clinical Trials

Cancer Clinical Trials at Premier Health supports those seeking additional treatment options through clinical trials. It is anticipated that current research trial participation leads to future disease prevention strategies and medical treatments. These trials also advance evidence-based health care. In coordination with research investigators throughout the system, our staff at the Clinical Research Center is committed to meeting the highest ethical standard of excellence in conducting clinical research and supporting quality patient care. In addition to Gynecological Oncology Group Foundation and cooperative group trials such as “S1415CD Implementation of a Prospective Financial Impact Assessment Tool”, Premier Health offers pharmaceutical, commercial, and investigator-initiated studies, such as “InformCLL™: A Disease Registry for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia”. With over 40 studies available, clinical trials at Premier Health include all phases and types including prevention and control, cancer treatment, and advanced imaging studies.

New Linear Accelerator Technology

Radiation Oncology Services – a joint venture of Dayton Physicians Network, Premier Health, and Wayne HealthCare – is advancing treatment with the arrival of new tumor-fighting medical linear accelerators at Atrium Medical Center and Upper Valley Medical Center. Linear accelerators produce a range of very high energy radiation beams that are directed to deliver radiation dose to the tumor inside the body. Premier Health’s new linear accelerators will feature high resolution CT imaging, robotics, and rapid dose delivery, which delivers radiation treatment more efficiently and reduces side effects in patients. For patients, this means more accurate treatments and can mean a decrease in treatment time.

Community Partnerships

The Premier Health Cancer Institute continues to have a strong focus on community partnerships across our service area to support community education and supportive services for those in our community who have been affected by cancer. Premier Health once again worked with 10th grade students at the Dayton Regional STEM School to create cancer PSAs which were featured on social media. Premier Health continued our relationship with the American Cancer Society, fielding teams for and fundraising for local Relay for Life events and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Premier Health also continued to support Pink Ribbon Girls’ support services for patients with breast and gynecologic cancers through the Paint the Town Pink 5K in Troy and pink fire truck visits at all Premier Health facilities.

Community Outreach

Premier Health promoted early detection of cancer through a number of screening and educational programs throughout the year. We offered free skin cancer screenings this spring in conjunction with Wright State University and Dayton Children’s. Four Brake for Breakfast events in October touted the importance of mammography, followed by Shine A Light on Lung Cancer in November which brought awareness to lung cancer and recognized the patients and caregivers touched by this disease. A CME event for healthcare professionals focusing on lung cancer took place in August and featured presentations by Premier Health specialists and a specialist from MD Anderson Cancer Center and was attended by more than 30 physicians from across Southwest Ohio. Premier Health continues to administer the regional grant for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCC), which provides increased access to mammography and Pap tests for some of the most vulnerable women in the region. This year, we also upgraded our mobile mammography coach, which provides a convenient option to ensure that the women of Southwest Ohio have access to mammograms. Premier Health also hosted three Women Wisdom Wellness events focusing on breast health that were attended by over 500 women.

Hospital Cancer Committee Initiatives

UVMC

Provided free prostate cancer screenings to the community in tandem with the local urology office. During this two-day screening event, participants had their blood drawn on day 1 and then met with the urology team on day 2. A PSA was drawn on all participants and those at a higher risk for bladder cancer also had a urine specimen collected. During day 2, these results were discussed with the participants and an assessment of symptoms was completed. Education regarding prostate cancer was also provided during this time. Thirty-two community members participated.

AMC

Exceeded the 50 percent requirement for the number of eligible patients who have received survivorship care planning.

Miami Valley Hospital

Educated more than 5,900 individuals through community outreach such as cancer support groups, educational events, and health fairs. Education was identified as an area of focus in the Premier Health Oncology Community Needs Assessment, along with wellness/prevention and healthy food/nutrition to support those living with cancer.

Multiple Locations

  • Implemented system-wide monthly Head and Neck Cancer conferences to bring together a multidisciplinary group of specialists to discuss complex head and neck cancer cases.
  • Implemented additional integrative therapy programs for patients including exercise and massage therapy. These therapies can have a number of positive benefits for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Standardized systemwide pregnancy screening for women of childbearing age (ages 8-55) preparing to undergo oncology treatment. Fifty-one percent of our oncology patients are female.
  • Implemented a Breast Imaging Nurse Navigator (BINN) program. The BINNs contact patients after the patient has an abnormal mammogram, and prior to their biopsy. During this navigation visit the BINN discusses the biopsy process to help alleviate anxiety and provide education. The BINN also coordinates care and conducts the appropriate follow-up. This has also been implemented at Miami Valley Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital South, and Atrium Medical Center.