2004-2005 Cancer Program Annual Report
Mission Statement
The Cancer Program Annual Report is dedicated to all the caregivers watching over the well-being of oncology patients and their families who visit Whidbey General Hospital System and the Medical Ambulatory Care & Oncology Clinic.
A Message from Dr. Kenny Koo M.D., FRCS (Edin), FACS Chair, WGH Cancer Committee
The cancer program has set the following goals for itself:
- Enhance community outreach and establish close working relationship with community cancer care agencies in the region. We want to improve the care of cancer patients and provide educational information about cancer prevention and therapy.
- Maintain our high standard of the cancer registry, ensuring accurate and timely abstracting, staging and follow up,
- Improve the attendance of the cancer conference. This event allows us to provide up-to-date information in the ever-changing world of oncology and consultative opportunities for patients.
- Encourage the enrollment of eligible patients to clinical research.
I served as both as the Chairman of the Cancer Committee and the Cancer Liaison Physician to the Commission of Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons for almost 8 years since coming to Whidbey General Hospital in 1997. The dedicated and efficient colleagues and staff have made my work easier. Due to increasing workload and the importance of the Cancer Liaison Physician, the Commission of Cancer recommended a change. Dr. Andrew Glass became the Cancer Liaison Physician in April, 2004. He has maintained a close relationship with the Commission of Cancer. He has also developed and strengthened relationships with cancer care agencies nationwide and in the region, including the American Cancer Society. The monthly multi-disciplinary cancer conference is one of the most important events of the program. I am happy to report that since becoming a CME category I conference the attendance has significantly improved. From January 2004 to September 2005 averaged 20 physicians and 30 total attendances for each meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who continue to support our program and attend the conference regularly. We have improved the conference with quality case selection and presentation. We have guest speakers to give lectures on various oncology subjects. For optimal visualization, case summaries, radiology images, pathology slides and clinical pictures are presented in a projection format. I hope we can attract more "new-comers" to attend this vital conference. The Medical Ambulatory Care/Oncology (MAC) clinic has received nothing but praise from our cancer patients. They appreciate the comfortable environment and the dedication of our physicians and nursing staff. Special commendation and thanks to all who work in the MAC clinic. Other activities of the cancer program include:
- Setting up a Foundation Fund for the development of cancer care on Whidbey Island
- Setting up pain management committee
- Annual Art Show
- Relay for Life
- Annual Breast Cancer Quilt Raffle
- Skin and Prostate cancer screening
- Breast cancer and general cancer support group meetings
- Reach to recovery program