POQC team photo June 2024 biannual meeting

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.

Patient and Caregiver Oncology Quality Council (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

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

There is so much to help us do better at survival in cancers, and so many more new treatments out there, but the one thing that is often overlooked is – is it the right thing to do for the patient? So I was thrilled to see that MOQC is focusing on hospice. It’s so under looked in oncology these days.

PHYSICIAN

We had some nice conversations of the incorporation of palliative care for patients and barriers to provide PC in our clinics. Will work locally to expand outpatient palliative care options for our patients to complement the PC that can be provided by the treating oncologist. Also discussed good strategies in the clinic that have worked well at other centers during COVID pandemic that could be further developed at our cancer center.

PHYSICIAN

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

As typical for this conference, I am motivated to continue to integrate my palliative practice more fully into the fiber of our cancer center activities, and to advance ways of measuring the impact of the work we do.

PHYSICIAN

MOQC brings us all together. It’s very unifying, we’re all on the same page, we’re all looking at the same issues and developing like action plans so that we’re improving care.

PATRICE TIMS, RN, BSN, MSA – Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit

For current POQC Members, click here to access The POQC Post:

The POQC Post

Access the POQC handout for Patients:

POQC Workgroups

Recruitment and Retention:

This workgroup focuses on the expansion and retention of POQC, paying particular attention to addressing the substantial gaps in healthcare experiences faced by historically marginalized people. The target of current recruitment efforts is recruiting people who have minoritized population status in and of the following categories: race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, disability status, and armed services experience.

Members of MOQC and POQC will reach out to patients or caregivers of interest and schedule one on one meetings to discuss participation.

Reach out to Vanessa Aron for additional information: varon@moqc.org.

Patient and Caregiver Resources:

Patient and Caregiver Resources Workgroup Cancer affects not only people who are diagnosed but also their families, caregivers and friends. Getting a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and the Patient and Caregiver Resources Workgroup is working to make things a little easier for everyone on this difficult journey. The goal of this workgroup is to find, evaluate and provide useful information, so it’s easy for those impacted by cancer to find help, support, and guidance.

Types of resources the Patient and Caregiver Resources Workgroup is working on includes support for patients and caregivers, financial and legal issues, transportation, food and nutrition, Advance Care Directives, palliative and end of life care, and more.

Check out the Resources Search Engine to find meaningful resources available to you. Reach out to Ashley Bowen for additional information: abowen@moqc.org.

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 helpful resources that can guide patients through the financial aspects of cancer.

Reach out to Natalia Simon for additional information: nsimon@moqc.org.