Abstract
Transdisciplinarity characterizes the collaborative statewide networks organized around the disease continuum of cancer care in Georgia, United States. By exploring the driving forces at the macro level of policy formation and state cancer control efforts, the transdisciplinary team approach translates to the meso level where statewide workgroups organize to develop implementation initiatives designed to influence improvements in cancer control. Georgia's statewide cancer control efforts apply three cross-cutting priorities of quality, care coordination and palliative care/survivorship in association with the top five site specific priorities. The influence of transdisciplinarity is demonstrated through the Georgia Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (GCCRT) initiatives impacting colorectal cancer screenings at the micro level where practitioner and patient interactions occur. A medical home achieves improvements in colorectal cancer screening after participating in the GCCRT annual meeting.
TopMacro: The Evolution Of Gc3 And Ga Core
In 1998, along with 16 other states, Georgia sued to recover health related costs associated with tobacco use and received a 2 billion dollar settlement from four major tobacco companies (Montoya, 2013; Seward, 2012). Two decades ago, through assigning a measure of the tobacco settlement funds toward improving the quality of cancer care, then Governor Roy Barnes set in motion activities aimed at ensuring Georgians would not have to leave the state to receive cutting edge cancer care (Mealor, Canterbury, Paris, Irby, & Johnson, 2008; Paris, Burke II, & Schnell, 2013). A vision-based strategy of saving Georgian lives from cancer set in motion conceptual planning and subsequent undertakings spanning over a decade. Sustaining the longevity of effort relied less on the tobacco settlement funds and more on the engagement of individuals across specialties and communities advocating for funds and attention to the quality of cancer care across Georgia.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC): The initial organization formed to close the gap in quality of cancer care across Georgia. GCC dissolved by 2011.
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): A stool-based screening method that identifies patients at risk for colorectal cancer.
Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (GA CORE): A 501c3 corporation established to advance a statewide network access to clinical trials and innovations in the delivery of cancer care. Transdisciplinary membership consists of academics, clinicians, policy makers, patients, and providers.
Georgia National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (GA NCORP): A NCI grant-funded initiative to provide access to NCI clinical trials and cancer care delivery research. The GA NCORP is comprised of three major components: The GA CORE, Northside Cancer Institute, and St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System. The three components cover 80% of the state.
Georgia Cancer Control Consortium (GC3): The membership consisting of cancer care related organizations across the state of Georgia and led by a Steering Team. Members participate in collaborative workgroups comprised of statewide members to implement tactics that drive Georgia toward improvements in cancer control.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) telephone survey addressing risk factors. State of Georgia chooses to monitor colorectal cancer screenings using the BRFSS as a tool for tracking patients choosing colorectal cancer screenings.
Georgia Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (GCCRT): Statewide collaborative focusing on colorectal cancer screening and treatment. Functions under the GC3 Early Detection and Screening Workgroup.