We hear so much about our health care system in the news and from our politicians.  Each of us has experienced good and bad medical care. But do we know if we are receiving quality cancer care? Does the US healthcare system deliver quality cancer care?

 

The McKinsey Global Institute, an independent consulting group, concluded that the current health care system is dysfunctional. The financing part -- how we pay for health care -- is inequitable, inefficient, and fiscally unsustainable. The delivery part -- how we actually provide services to sick people -- is costly and provides haphazard and poor quality of care. Many studies show that only about half of Americans get evidenced-based care and thousands if not millions are unnecessarily injured. http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/reports/pdfs/healthcare/MGI_US_HC_fullreport.pdf

 

Is cancer care any better? Unfortunately, the literature is full of studies and examples which document inconsistent cancer care and many cancer patients do not receive quality cancer care. Last month alone, two studies were released that confirmed there are indeed gaps in cancer care.

 

One study reported that 60% of colon cancer patients do not receive proper follow-up per the recommended guidelines. In response, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the American Cancer Society, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld stated, “Despite advanced technology, our ability to deliver the recommended care has left something to be desired.”  
http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/433780.html

 

The other reported that many patients with colon cancer are not receiving adequate colon cancer surgeries.  http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-09-coloncancer_N.htm   The need for using chemotherapy for colon cancer patients is dependant on the number of lymph nodes that a surgeon removes. When surgeries are not performed to this standard, chemotherapy is given when it shouldn’t be given and isn’t given when it should. This translates to cost and quality of life issues. Per this study, only 78% of the NCI designated comprehensive cancer centers met these basic guidelines with 38% complying overall. 

 

So what can cancer patients do when the “system” is failing them? Patients have to take on the responsibility to assure that they are receiving quality care. But how?  Patients must get educated and seek care that is evidenced-based, compassionate, efficient, holistic, responsive, integrative and patient-centered. For more information on how to know if you or a family member is receiving quality cancer care, feel free to contact the NavigateCancer Foundation.