Joseph Rafferty’s Post

What does it take to lead with #empathy in modern healthcare? The #NHS should strive to improve the #health and #wellbeing of people as well as the experiences of health and care. We should do this with compassion, humanity and kindness, respecting people’s values and their right to make choices about their care. Read our article at the National Health Executive which includes the link to the Yes to Life Charter for Oncology. https://lnkd.in/eM9--3yZ

As this study in JAMA highlights, while improving diversity in #clinicaltrials is an important first step to eliminating disparities in care, it's not enough to guarantee equal outcomes. Life sciences professionals across the ecosystem need to work together on comprehensive solutions that address health inequities throughout the spectrum of care -- not just during a clinical trial.

What do providers need to know about tailoring preemptive therapy for GVHD? In this video, Kirk R. Schultz, MD, FCAHS, of BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and The University of British Columbia, shares his insights. Hear what he has to say: https://buff.ly/3v1s8Ll

Kristian Helin’s fantastic article in this weekend’s Observer calls out the damage of Brexit and the loss of the EMEA to the UK’s clinical trial standing. We’d also add that the increasing pressures of inadequate time and resource on healthcare providers are impacting their capacity for trial involvement. The government, industry and academia all need to work together to make it easier and simpler for centres, clinicians and people to play their role in the battle against cancer and ensure the UK remains a great place to run effective clinical trials. We believe that digital technology can go a long way to helping us achieve this. You can find out more about uMed’s approach here: https://lnkd.in/eRCMNndX #clinicalresearch #clinicaltrials #patientrecruitment #medicalresearch #healthcare #healthtechnology https://lnkd.in/eN_7QqCP

Analyzing data from 18 clinical trials and 28 real-world studies involving 7,604 patients reveals crucial insights post-#CART treatment. Of all non-relapse deaths, 50.9% are linked to infections. Moreover, 7.8% of non-relapse mortality is attributed to secondary malignancies, with CAR-related mutagenesis contributing to less than 0.1%, indicating its rarity in such cases. #healthcare #research #CARTtherapy #healthoutcomes #celltherapy https://lnkd.in/eA9rU3Tr

Did you know that older adult cancer survivors can spend nearly 1 month out of the year receiving health care outside the home? Health care contact days—days spent receiving health care outside the home—are an important person-centered measure of time. This measure presents opportunities for recognizing and addressing patient burdens during cancer survivorship. We can do better. Check out the newest published study from our research team to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gXMvVPXP.  #CancerSurvivorship #HealthCare #umnproud

As a healthcare leader who lives in a state where it can get rural very quickly, I believe it's imperative to recognize the profound impact recent CMS regulations have had on our patients, particularly those in rural areas. The restrictions on the delivery of cancer medications from medically integrated pharmacies (MIPs) not only disrupt the convenience and accessibility of vital treatments but also exacerbate existing healthcare disparities. For patients already facing geographic and economic challenges, mandating in-person pickups poses a significant burden, hindering treatment adherence and potentially compromising outcomes. It's crucial for policymakers to acknowledge these implications and work with community physicians towards modifying these rulings to ensure equitable access to life-saving cancer medications for all patients, regardless of their geographical location. Let's advocate for change and stand together in our commitment to improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare disparities in rural communities.  #EquitableHealthcare #PatientAccess #OncologyCare

Good to see more studies come out about the long-term effects that childhood cancer survivors can experience after treatment. This data from a Canadian population is largely consistent with previous studies from other parts of the world and will not come as a surprise to the childhood cancer community, survivors and their families who are engaged with research findings. One thing I do want to highlight though is this paragraph: "Although the guideline exists, the authors of the CMAJ study say the number of survivors who followed the screening recommendations was low. The study found only 13 per cent were complying with colorectal cancer screening recommendations, six per cent were following breast cancer screening guidelines and 53 per cent were adhering to cardiomyopathy screening recommendations." This is a significant problem and must be urgently addressed. As a survivor myself, I am grateful for this research and also concerned for all childhood cancer survivors in Canada. A lot of childhood cancer survivors are understandably not engaged with current research findings and guidelines for their care, their primary care providers might also not be aware of their additional risks and I fear as these long-term effects crop up, they will not get the care that they need. Some long-term effects such as an increased risk of some cancers and/or heart problems for some childhood cancer survivors can be mitigated by early detection. We need to make sure that information about these side effects and most importantly - what to do about them is available and accessible to childhood cancer survivors, their families and their primary care teams. We need to strike a balance between being empowering and not alarming with how we communicate this to survivors and their families. This is a a key topic for the Psychosocial and Survivorship group as part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research | Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada funded ACCESS-ACCES, which I am one of the co-leads for, as well as Paul Nathan, the senior author of this new paper. https://lnkd.in/gUmGatcs So, we're working on it - but fresh perspectives and ideas are always welcome.