Autumn Greetings to you all 🍂
Since we last saw you, the MOQC Coordinating Center has been working hard to navigate the changing seasons. We are moving into different weather patterns, using new language to describe unapologetic and critical work, anticipating major changes for patients and healthcare teams because of Medicaid and Medicare shifts, and preparing resources for the evolving landscape we all face. It is a time of transition that our director, Dr. Jennifer Griggs, would call a liminal space. In the face of much uncertainty, we are resolved to press forward with courage.
We also have many reasons to celebrate. MOQC is spreading the word about our collaborative quality improvement work through a variety of abstracts. Check out the posters that have been accepted for publication and are included in this issue:
- A Strategy to Recruit APPs for Palliative Care Access Improvement in Michigan presented to the 2025 CAPC National Seminar September 16, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA
- Outcomes of Pharmacist-Led Oral Anticancer Agent Management Among Community Oncology Practices presented at ASCO Quality Symposium October 10-11, 2025, in Chicago, IL
- Biomarker Testing for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Across Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium (MOQC) Sites presented at ASCO Quality Symposium October 10-11, 2025, in Chicago, IL
- Partnering with Practices to Understand Health Barriers in Michigan Cancer Care and Build Fair, Patient-Focused Solutions presented at ASCO Quality Symposium October 10-11, 2025, in Chicago, IL
- Non-Medical Needs Screening in Oncology: Results from a National Insight-Gathering with Patients presented at Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO) Live October 23-26, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland
We also presented at the Food as Medicine Summit on October 7-8, 2025, in East Lansing, MI, about our Comfort Cuisine initiative. See more information about that event, also included in this issue.
Finally, we are very excited that the Measures & Steering Committees approved the implementation of a new measure: Screening for non-medical needs at least once per year. This measure was a significant topic at our fall meetings this year, and we look forward to working with you and your teams to meet patients and caregivers where they are with this screening. Remember that when needs are unmet you have resources available, including MOQC’s Patient and Caregiver Resources Search Engine, https://cancerhelp.moqc.org/, and Michigan 2-1-1. We are so energized by the discussions that are happening in person about this and many other important topics.
Thank you for your steadfast compassion and commitment to patients, caregivers, your colleagues, and improving the quality of care for all. We are with you on this journey.
Keli DeVries, LMSW
Program Manager