A diagnosis of cancer often represents the beginning of a journey that requires frequent and often sustained contact with primary care and oncology care providers. While those who have been treated for cancer and their care providers recognize the importance of seamless care across the cancer journey, they frequently report opportunities to enhance current approaches.
The Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies is committed to identifying, sharing and building upon innovative and promising practice to address shared care between primary and oncology care settings; enhance communication; and smooth transitions across the cancer journey. Our work is guided by a pan-Canadian, multi-disciplinary committee, published literature, and commissioned literature, including a recent report titled, “Supporting Primary Care in Cancer Follow Up”.
Across Canada, provincial cancer agencies and programs are working collaboratively with family physicians, government agencies, and professional associations to address cancer care and treatment across primary and oncology settings. For example:
BC Cancer Agency’s Family Practice Oncology Network (FPON) provides comprehensive support, including tools, resources, education, and programs, to support primary care providers.
Alberta Health service’s Provincial Family Physician Initiative (PFPI) supports access to information, education, and communication to build stronger relationships between cancer care services and primary care providers.
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s Community Oncology Program (COP) coordinates care in community settings and facilitates communication between the oncology and primary care care providers during treatment.
CancerCare Manitoba’s Uniting Primary Care and Oncology Network (UPCON) focuses on collaboration and shared care between oncology and primary care settings, improved communication, and coordination of care, while its Community Cancer Programs supports cancer treatment, care and support in rural Manitoba.
Cancer Care Ontario’s Primary Care Program is a key component of the Agency’s strategy to improving the quality of cancer care in Ontario.
Design and funding of provincial healthcare systems and approach to the actual delivery of healthcare by healthcare professionals are areas that are increasingly being explored across Canada. For example, innovative service delivery models have the potential to maximize the skills and expertise of professionals who provide cancer care and treatment, including pharmacists, nurses and physicians. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s Service Delivery Models Database is a collection of leading, innovative and promising Canadian and international models of care, which may be informative for jurisdictions thinking about delivering care differently.
Across these initiatives, and embedded in CAPCA’s strategic focus on enhancing community oncology and supporting the professional providers involved in that care, is a commitment to patient-centred care for individuals with cancer and their families.
Care Across the Continuum
The Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies is committed to identifying, sharing and building upon innovative and promising practice to address shared care between primary and oncology care settings; enhance communication; and smooth transitions across the cancer journey. Our work is guided by a pan-Canadian, multi-disciplinary committee, published literature, and commissioned literature, including a recent report titled, “Supporting Primary Care in Cancer Follow Up”.
Across Canada, provincial cancer agencies and programs are working collaboratively with family physicians, government agencies, and professional associations to address cancer care and treatment across primary and oncology settings. For example:
Design and funding of provincial healthcare systems and approach to the actual delivery of healthcare by healthcare professionals are areas that are increasingly being explored across Canada. For example, innovative service delivery models have the potential to maximize the skills and expertise of professionals who provide cancer care and treatment, including pharmacists, nurses and physicians. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s Service Delivery Models Database is a collection of leading, innovative and promising Canadian and international models of care, which may be informative for jurisdictions thinking about delivering care differently.
Across these initiatives, and embedded in CAPCA’s strategic focus on enhancing community oncology and supporting the professional providers involved in that care, is a commitment to patient-centred care for individuals with cancer and their families.