During the January 2023 biannual meeting, our keynote speaker, Dr. Lydia Benitez, presented on the goals and tenets of oncology stewardship. Oncology stewardship is a comprehensive approach to cancer care that focuses on improving patient outcomes, enhancing quality of life, and optimizing resource utilization. By promoting evidence-based practices and interprofessional collaboration, stewardship reduces variation in care and minimizes both physical and financial toxicity. The presentation was met with so much interest and enthusiasm, MOQC embarked on developing a statewide oncology stewardship program. During our spring 2023 regional meetings, we asked our practices to identify thought leaders who could contribute to these efforts.
In the fall of 2023, MOQC conducted two focus groups with a total of 13 hematologist-oncologists led by a professional facilitator, Karin Schneider, from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR). The goal was to explore participants’ understanding of and impressions surrounding stewardship. These rich discussions were summarized by a visual recorder, and a full report was compiled after both groups met. In February 2024, we held a member checking meeting to validate the findings in the report. We are in the process of designing a statewide proof of concept and will continue to engage our practices, subject matter experts, POQC, and thought leaders.
We look forward to presenting our progress at the June 2024 biannual meeting.
We would like to thank Blue Cross Blue Shield Value-Based Partnerships and Collaborative Quality Initiatives’ Central Office for supporting our efforts. We are also sincerely grateful to the focus group participants who shared their time and expertise with us.
Adobe Firefly AI-generated image