POQC: Patient and Caregiver Oncology Quality Council
The Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium (MOQC) is a group formed in 2009, whose goal is to improve the quality of care cancer patients receive across the state. MOQC is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and work is coordinated at the University of Michigan. MOQC focuses on all cancer patients, especially those who receive chemotherapy, with or without insurance. MOQC improves care by using data gathered as part of the MOQCLink database, targeting areas of care that need to get better, and working with medical and gynecologic oncologists and their teams to make changes in their practices so that care improves.
POQC Contributions
POQC Members are able to:
- Provide the voice of patients and caregivers in focus groups or for patient-facing materials review
- Share stories of how they have faced challenges in accessing the health care system, and ideas for how systems can be created to better serve patients and loved ones
POQC Recruitment
In addition to providing support to MOQC and to MOQC practices, POQC is always looking to expand.
We are very interested in having patients and caregivers who represent a broader patient voice, including:
- Patients and caregivers from minority groups
- Patients currently receiving treatment; caregivers of patients currently receiving treatment
- Patients with varied diagnosis ages; caregivers of patients with varied diagnosis ages
- Patients and caregivers who are medically-underserved
Members of MOQC and/or POQC will reach out to patients or caregivers of interest and schedule one on one meetings to discuss participation.
Contact project manager, Vanessa Aron, for more information.
POQC Workgroups
Patient and Caregiver Resources:
Cancer has a huge impact on not only patients, but also their friends, families, and other caregivers. The focus of this group is to compile resources in a way that is easily accessible to patients and their loved ones and can make a cancer diagnosis a little less overwhelming for everyone. A few examples of resource categories include caregiver support, palliative care, and communication.
Financial Navigation:
Finances play a huge role in any health condition, but especially cancer. There are many legal and logistical issues that can be very confusing, all on top of going through a cancer diagnosis. The goal of this group is to put together digestible resources that can guide patients through the financial aspects of cancer.
BVOGUE – Black Voices on Gynecologic Cancer: Understanding Experiences:
www.moqc.org/bvogue/
This workgroup has emerged into a research project that looks at racial disparities in gynecologic cancer, specifically focused on Black patients. The beginning stage is to create and conduct focus groups with Black patients to hear their stories. The qualitative data from the focus groups will then be used to create educational materials for healthcare workers, in order to combat the disparities that still exist in our world today.