Regional Cancer Care Report Card 2010

Today Regional Cancer Care Northwest is launching its first Report Card, highlighting the performance of regional cancer services over the past two years. It is a measurement of our performance against our second Regional Cancer Plan 2008-2010.

The launch of the Report Card comes on the heels of the Cancer Quality Council of Ontario's Annual Report and CSQI (Cancer System Quality Index).

“The Index is a snapshot of how the cancer system is performing and highlights successes and opportunities for improvement,” said Terrence Sullivan, President and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario.

Cancer Care Ontario issued a news release reporting on the continued improvement of wait times for cancer radiation treatment across Ontario during 2009, despite a more than 10 per cent increase in the number of patients receiving treatment.

Regional Cancer Care Northwest is outperforming the provincial average according to the following indicators:

Wait times for Radiation: Percent of patients seen within target (14 days) referral to consult, by cancer centre: Northwest: 81.5% versus Ont. Average: 67.7%
Percent of patients treated with radiation within targets, ready to treat to start of treatment, by cancer centre: Northwest 89.3% versus Ont. Average 75.3%
Radiation Therapy Utilization: Percent of cancer cases treated with radiotherapy at anytime during the course of illness: Northwest 40.5% versus 35.5%

The Northwest also continues to be a top performer with some of the best wait times in Ontario in all three treatment options: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

“We are ranked number one in three out of four wait times measured provincially and are among the best in the province for high performance in Radiation and Systemic Wait Times,” says Michael Power, Regional VP, Cancer and Diagnostic Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

“Reducing wait times for cancer therapy is about more than just successful treatment, it helps patients stay positive during what might be a challenging course of treatment,” Power adds.

Regional Cancer Care Northwest (RCC Northwest) is also making gains in the areas of stage capture, pathology reporting, and accruals to clinical trials.

However, the regional Report Card also points out the need for improvement. RCC Northwest is lagging behind in a number of provincial indicators, for example, ranking below the provincial average in modifiable cancer risk factors including smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke; participation in colorectal and cervical cancer screening; and wait times for colonoscopy.

Need for improvement according to the following indicators:

Percentage of adults with selected cancer risk factors:
Smoking: Northwest 28.4% vs Ont. Average 22%
Obesity: Northwest 20.6% vs 16.9% Ont. Average Physical Activity: Northwest 54.3% vs 41.2% Ont. Average
Exposure to Second-hand smoke:
Non-smokers (aged 12+) who are exposed to second-hand smoke in their home Northwest: 7.1% vs 5.4% Ont. Average
Male non-smokers (aged 20+) exposed to second-hand smoke in their home, a car, or in public: Northwest 24.8% vs 19.6% Ont. Average
Female non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke (has improved but still lagging): Northwest 12.3% vs 17.7% Ont. Average
Colorectal Cancer Screening (FOBT) Participation aged 50-74:
Northwest 23.8% vs 29.7% Ont. Average
Cervical Screening (PAP) Participation among women aged 20-69:
Northwest 70.4% vs 72.2% Ont. Average
Wait times for Colonoscopy after positive FOBT within 8 week benchmark:
Northwest 36.4% vs 62.5% Ont. Average

“Identifying areas where we need to improve is very important,” says Power, “It is the key deciding factor when we allocate our resources and determine what programs, services or campaigns are needed most in our region.”

RCC Northwest aims to ensure that all patients receive equitable access to quality cancer care by offering world-class services in cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive/palliative care to the 235,000 residents of Northwestern Ontario. Currently, patients can receive care closer to home in one of 13 affiliated hospital sites across the region.

What is the Cancer System Quality Index (CSQI)?

The Cancer Quality Council of Ontario's annual report on the performance of Ontario's cancer care system exemplifies the principles articulated in the Government's proposed initiatives to improve quality and accountability of health care system to meet the needs of patients (The Excellent Care for All Act).

The Cancer System Quality Index (the 'Index') is a web-based public reporting tool that serves as a valuable, system-wide monitor. The Index presents a rolling snapshot of activity in about 30 key indicators across 7 core dimensions of quality (e.g., safety, accessibility, effectiveness, equity, efficiency, integration and patient-centeredness).

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