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.
I was honored to be asked by my oncologist to join POQC. My initial overview New Member meeting with Vanessa made me feel hopeful about joining POQC. After joining, and meeting everyone POQC is an amazing opportunity to connect with other cancer related individuals to learn from and be inspired. I am humbled to be among such great Cancer Survivors and leaders.
POQC Member
I’m fortunate to have had many volunteer opportunities in my life – especially during the past several years as I edged toward and moved fully into retirement. The most rewarding and fulfilling of that volunteer work has been as a member of POQC. The reasons are many, but most notable has been having a valued – truly valued – patient voice for cancer care.
POQC Member
I’m proud to say I’ve been a POQC member for more than five years. I can’t imagine not having this enriching work in my life.
POQC Member
It is heart, in that sense that can bring purpose to these things. Heart does not come in the form of ink and pixels. It is heart that realizes purpose, that raises motivation, that addresses what is seen, that speaks to the practitioners, that advises and affects so that tasks, decisions and choices are refined and faith built up, that offers things an instant replay would never include.
POQC Member
I felt honored and hopeful about joining POQC. My term with the Cancer Center’s Council was ending after nearly six years and I was looking for ways to continue working with the cancer community. My husband received his cancer care at UM and I wanted to find a meaningful way to continue to give back in some way, however small it might be. POQC has more than met that wish.
POQC Member
I was fortunate enough to become a member. I was honored to be asked. It was and is an honor to be a member of POQC.
POQC Member
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.
