WellStar Cancer Network 2016 Annual Report

THE CORGAN MEMORIAL LECTURE
Post Mastectomy Radiation Therapy
considered or administered in >4
Positive Lymph Nodes
100
80
60
100%
100%
This year WellStar lost a cherished colleague in the breast
surgeon Kristin Corgan, M.D. A few months after her passing
from breast cancer, we founded the Corgan Memorial Lecture
as a tribute to her exemplary work. The Corgan Memorial
Lecture was held in the Kennestone Auditorium on October
15, 2015. The lecture was given by Shawna Willey, M.D.,
vice chairman for clinical affairs for the department of surgery
at Georgetown University Hospital, and a colleague of
Dr. Corgan. Dr. Willey's presentation was entitled, “Breast
Cancer Surgery. What’s New? What’s Not?” More than 100
physicians, nurses, healthcare staff and community members
attended the lecture.
40
20
0
WellStar
Benchmark: NAPBC
Benchmark
There is consensus that post-mastectomy radiation
should be recommended for women with breast
cancer and with >=4 positive regional lymph nodes.
Numerous studies have shown a significant reduction in
locoregional recurrence rates, disease-free survival rates,
and even overall survival with this adjuvant therapy.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
In 2015, the breast cancer program addressed a serious
problem by increasing access to diagnostic and treatment
services for women who previously did not return for biopsy
after receiving an abnormal mammogram result. It is now the
policy of WellStar that any patient who receives an abnormal
mammogram result will confirm a follow-up appointment for
a biopsy before leaving the imaging center. This improvement
has been implemented because a study conducted in 2014
showed patients reporting decreased anxiety levels when
leaving the mammography visit with an appointment for a
concrete next step.
WELLSTAR CANCER NETWORK • 2016 ANNUAL REPORT • 13