Hospital
Tumor Board
An
Organizational Primer
Reynaldo
O. Joson, MD, MHA, MHPEd, MS Surg
2002
What is a Hospital Tumor Board in the Philippines?
It is envisioned to be a
policy-making body on management of cancer patients and cancer program in a
hospital.
It is requirement set by the
Department of Health for licensure of the hospital; the Philippine College of Surgeons for accreditation of training
program in general surgery; and the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecologic
Society for accreditation of training program in OB-GYN.
What is the goal of a Hospital Tumor Board?
Goal
To
promote quality services to patients with cancers.
What are the objectives of a Hospital Tumor Board?
1. To formulate
integrated, coordinated, and comprehensive hospital-wide policies on the
management of patients with cancer in the hospital.
2. To monitor and
continually improve the quality of care to patients with cancers.
3. To conduct
educational and training programs for concerned staff so as to facilitate
implementation of hospital policies on management of cancer patients.
4. To promote
research on oncology that will continually improve the quality of care for
cancer patients.
Considering the goal and objectives, who should be
members of a Hospital Tumor Board?
All staff who are actively
involved in the management of cancer patients and who are interested and
committed to the goal and objectives of a Hospital Tumor Board can be
members.
Surgical
oncologists
Medical
oncologists
Pediatric
oncologists
Gynecologic
oncologists
Radiation
oncologists
Pathology
oncologists
Anesthesia
oncologists
Psychiatry
oncologists
Nurse oncologists
Pharmacy
oncologists
Who should head a Hospital Tumor Board?
Any oncologist who has the
following qualifications:
1. Comprehensive
knowledge in cancer management
2. Objectivity and
holistic approach in problem-solving and decision-making in cancer management
3. Leadership to set
up integrated, coordinated, and comprehensive hospital-wide policies on cancer
management.
What are the general activities of a Hospital Tumor
Board?
All activities that are needed to
effectively and efficiently achieve the goal and objectives of a Hospital Tumor
Board.
The Hospital Tumor Board
formulates, directs, supervises, and evaluates the cancer care program of the
hospital.
The Hospital Tumor Board may
participate in cancer programs in the community.
What are the usual specific activities of a Hospital
Tumor Board?
1. Cancer registry
2. Conferences
2.1
Administrative conferences
2.2
Education and training conferences
2.3
Research conferences
3. Patient education
How should the performance of a Hospital Tumor Board
be evaluated?
Whether the goal and objectives
are effectively and efficiently achieved.
See table on performance
parameters and standards below.
What are common problems of a Hospital Tumor Board?
1. Hospital
administrators, appointed chairs, and oncologists do not have a clear idea on
the goal and objectives of a Hospital Tumor Board.
2. Appointed chairs
do not have sufficient leadership and managerial skills.
3. Turfing and
insecurity among oncologists.
4. Inadequate
logistic support.
What are some tips for hospital administrators on
Hospital Tumor Board?
1. Know clearly the
goal and objectives of a Hospital Tumor Board and sincerely support it.
2. Appoint a
chairperson with the necessary qualifications.
What are some tips for appointed chairs on Hospital
Tumor Board?
1. Know clearly the
goal and objectives and evaluation parameters of a Hospital Tumor Board.
2. Make sure all
members know the goal and objectives and evaluation parameters of a Hospital Tumor
Board.
3. Motivate and
empower all the members to work towards common goal and objectives of a
Hospital Tumor Board.
4. Together with all
the members and by consensus, formulate integrated, coordinated, and
comprehensive hospital-wide policies in the management of cancer patients.
5. Together with all
the members and by consensus, formulate standardized protocols on the
management of cancer patients.
6. When formulating
policies and procedures, have the greater good in mind rather on a few or individual
patient.
7. When conducting
education and training program, focus on concept and principle learning and
application rather than on individualistic problem-solving.
8. Entice the
oncologists to share their experiences with their cancer cases.
9. Entice the
oncologists to bring challenging cancer cases to the Hospital Tumor Board for
multidisciplinary discussion.
10. Have a clearly
written system of procedures in governing and evaluating the Hospital Tumor
Board that will include a year-start management action plan and budget and a
year-end performance review and report.
What are some issues where policies and procedures
should be formulated as a priority?
Unified philosophy and concept in
Cancer
causes
Cancer
prevention
Cancer
cure
Cancer
palliation
Standardized management of a
patient process
Policies and protocols for
managing terminally-ill cancer patients
Protocols in cancer pain control
Cancer Registry
Performance
Parameters and Standards
Hospital
Tumor Board
|
Objectives |
Parameters |
Standards and Targets |
|
To formulate
integrated, coordinated, and comprehensive hospital-wide policies on the
management of patients with cancer in the hospital. |
Presence of
written policies |
Integrated,
coordinated, and comprehensive hospital-wide Continually
updated |
|
To monitor and
continually improve the quality of care to patients with cancers. |
Morbidity and
mortality rates Complaints of
patients |
Acceptable
rates (<5%) Acceptable no.
of complaints (<5 / year) |
|
To conduct
educational and training programs for concerned staff so as to facilitate
implementation of hospital policies on management of cancer patients. |
Educational and
training programs |
Structured Geared towards
goal and objectives |
|
To promote
research on oncology that will continually improve the quality of care for
cancer patients. |
Research output |
Number (4 a
year) Useful enough
to be integrated into policies and procedures |