Sutter Health Cancer Services and Programs

A n n u a l S u m m a r y o f P r o g r a m A c t i v i t i e sMPHSMills-Peninsula Health ServicesRex Greene, MDMedical DirectorIn 2004, the Dorothy E. SchneiderCancer Center at Mills-PeninsulaHealth Services focused on programdevelopment and educational outreachto physicians. The center saw a modestreduction in new cancer cases, whichparalleled regional and national trendsshowing a declining incidence ofnew cancer cases. At the other end oflife, the palliative care program grewdramatically.The GU Cancer Program initiateda monthly multidisciplinary tumorboard. The weekly general tumorand breast tumor boards continuedand nearly 100 percent of cases werediscussed prospectively. A GI CancerProgram centered on colorectal canceris in the works, as well as optimizingcare of esophageal and pancreaticcancers. To this end, the center obtainedendoscopic ultrasound to assist withpre-operative staging of GI tumors.Breast cancer care continued to meetor exceeded Sutter guidelines, andthe hospital moved closer to openingits Women’s Center, which will housethe breast center and facilitate thedevelopment of a breast clinic.New and Expanded ProgramsThoracic oncology routinely presentednew lung cancer cases to the generaltumor board. Per national guidelines,PET scanning and mediastinscopywere performed in staging most newlydiagnosed cases. The breast centercontinued its high performance, andthe GU program discussed guidelinesfor treatment of moderate- to high-riskearly prostate cancer patients. Qualitybenchmarks were created for the fourmajor cancers.In its second full year, palliative care(PC) saw nearly 600 patients andreduced pain scores by five points onthe 0–10 pain scale. Patient satisfactionwith pain management continued toimprove hospitalwide, exceeding the60th percentile for most of the year.Cost savings from PC consultationexceeded $350,000. The center heldweekly multidisciplinary care conferencesand repeated its Palliative Careat the Bedside training for medicaland nursing staff. Staff presented theprogram to the National Hospice andPalliative Care Organization’s annualconference and a number of otherregional conferences and workshops.Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, spent a dayconferring with the team and presenteda strategy on generating a hospitalwidecommitment to pain control.Research and EducationIn February, Mills-Peninsula launchedthe First Annual Dorothy E. SchneiderCancer Center Symposium on NewApproaches and Technologies in CancerCare and gave a symposium of cancerprevention for primary care physiciansin October. Lectures were given to themedical staff on pain management inresponse to AB 487 and SB 151. The I-ELCAP lung cancer screening study continued.Accruals now exceed 100 cases,and the first early stage lung cancerwas detected. The center participated incooperative group clinical trials and wasactive on the Sutter Science Committee.The pilot study of guided imagery inoutpatient surgery showed significantimprovement in pain control.LeadershipMills-Peninsula continued its active rolein Sutter Health initiatives in cancerand palliative care. Dr. Henry Greenechaired the Sutter West Bay Consortium,which supports affiliated institutionsthrough strategic initiatives to developnew programs, enhance the quality ofcare and generate increased accrual tocooperative group clinical trials.2005 Annual Cancer Center Report — 2004 Statistical Review | 9