The strength of a network lies in relationships and mutual support. Network meetings are a chance to engage with other people working in navigation, to share expertise and resources, provide encouragement and support, and collectively problem solve challenges.
Meetings are currently hosted virtually and all are welcomed. We do ask you to register ahead of time so we can plan for discussion and breakout rooms if needed.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
December 20, 12-1 pm: President’s Cancer Panel Follow-up Discussion
This meeting will be a follow-up from our September listening session on the benefits and challenges of technology to support or provide navigation. Dr. Gene Lengerich will join again to share some of the highlights and takeaways from the PCP meeting.
PAST MEETINGS
November 15, 2023 12-1 pm: PA Department of Aging Program Updates
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging serves as the State Unit on Aging for Pennsylvania and is formally tasked by the Older Americans Act and the Pennsylvania General Assembly with representing the interest of older Pennsylvanians. The Department oversees and contracts with 52 Area Agencies on Aging that administer services to each of the 67 counties. Margo Muchinsky, Aging Services Specialist with the Department provided an overview of programs and services available to older adults across the state.
October 18, 2023: Insights into Survivorship Care for Oncology Patients
Elisa Malek, Clinical Nurse Consultant with Bristol Myers Squib joined us to share about survivorship plans. This meeting focused on defining survivorship, understanding patient needs throughout their survivorship journey, and ideas/resources to help meet those needs.
September 20, 2023 Network Meeting: Technology and Navigation Listening Session
This meeting was a group discussion on the benefits and challenges of technology to support or provide navigation. The information will inform discussion at the President’s Cancer Panel meeting in October.
August 23rd 2023 Network Meeting: Navigation and Palliative Care
Palliative care includes symptom management and conducting advance care planning. Patient navigators often have special relationships with their patients. Margaret Quinn Rosenzweig PhD, FNP-C, AOCNP, FAAN, Distinguished Service Professor of Nursing at University of Pittsburgh join us to share about how oncology navigators can provide increased access to primary palliative care.
July 19, 2023 Network Meeting: Pennie, What you need to know about PA’s Health Insurance Exchange.
Scott Yeager, Outreach Manager with Pennie shared a brief overview of Pennie and pennie.com, Pennie’s Open Enrollment Period for 2023 (November 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023), Pennie’s No-Wrong-Door Policy, Pennie’s Special Enrollment Period and the qualifying life events that can help PA residents get protected throughout the year, the financial assistance available to help pay for the cost of coverage and care, new developments like the Path to Pennie, the qualifying life event for those who are at or below 150% FPL, and resources to help the uninsured, and briefly, its plan for the end of the Public Health Emergency and those impacted by Medicaid re-determinations.
April 19 2023 Network Meeting: National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s State of Survivorship Report
Veronika Panagiotou, Ph.D., Advocacy and Program Manager for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship joined us to share the results from the 2022 State of Survivorship survey. This information provided insights to help us better understand the differences in survivor attitudes, experiences, and needs.
March 22nd, 2023 Virtual Meeting: Financial Challenges
Increasing financial challenges have been on ongoing topic of discussion recently. This meeting was an open discussion about the financial challenges patients face. Participants shared challenges and also resources. The compiled resource list has been posted to the CaNSuN Teams page. meeting.
February 22nd, 2023 Network Meeting: Penn State Extension Resources; A focus on Mental Health First Aid
Penn State Extension is one of the best kept secrets in PA. With a presence in all 67 counties, and programming in nutrition, physical activity and mental health, they have many resources available for navigators and patients. Are you familiar with your local Extension office and what they offer? Sonya Nace, Extension Educator in Dauphin County joined us to share more about Extensions programs with a focus on Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training helps you learn to identify and respond to signs of someone experiencing a mental health challenge. It is an evidence-based program from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
• Laura Toole and Karen Ryczak from the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute,
• Andrea Palashoff and Gabby Brennan from Adagio Health, and
• Karen Ostrander from the Penn State Cancer Institute.
Watch the Recording
July 13, 2022: Navigation and Research
Dr. Eugene Lengerich and Dr. Monali Vasekar from the Penn State College of Medicine shared a short presentation followed by discussion focused on two aspects of navigation and research: • The role navigators have or could play in research recruitment and retention. • Research on navigation that would be helpful for navigators
Watch the recording
June 15, 2022: Best Practices for Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusion
Charlie Borowicz, MSW, MPH, joined us to share best practices for transgender and nonbinary inclusion. This meeting will help participants better understand gender diversity, healthcare concerns of trans and nonbinary people, and identify best practices for inclusion of gender diversity. Charlie is is the Transgender Health Program Manager for Allegheny Health Network’s Center for Inclusion Health. They provides training and education across the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for transgender-inclusive care at all sites. To date they have provided training for thousands of AHN employees, and connected over 300 patients to care
Watch the recording
May 18th 2022: The Genetics/Genomics Toolkit
April Barry from the PA Department of Health joined us to share about the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition Genetics/Genomic Toolkit for Healthcare Providers.
The Genetic/Genomics Workgroup of the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition (PCC) has created a multi-component Genetics/Genomics Toolkit to provide healthcare professionals with the requisite tools to integrate hereditary cancer risk assessment into practice. The toolkit provides practical information on the role of genetics in care, increase recognition and the appropriate referral of individuals at risk for hereditary cancer syndromes, and learn how to talk with individuals about risk factors.
Watch the recording
April 20th, 2022: Lifting the Conversation
In April, Dori Kuchta, Nurse Educator with Merck shared about Lifting the Conversation. Effective communication is an essential part of navigation, but many conversations can be challenging. Dori had some great ideas on how to have more effective conversations with you patients. Click the line below to watch the recording.
Watch the recording.
March 16, 2022: Hepatitis B and C Screening in Pregnant Women
The most common risk factor for liver cancer is long term infection with Hepatitis B or C. Screening is one strategy to reduce risk. Bethany Reynolds and Shari Minnier from the PA Department of Health joined us to discuss hepatitis B and C causes, testing, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. This presentation included details specifically related to hepatitis B and C in pregnant people and what a hepatitis B or C diagnosis means for their infants.
Recording: For those who missed the meeting or if you’d like to review all or part of the meeting
February 23, 2022: The Colorectal Cancer Alliance
CarlaAnn Henry and Marielle McLeod from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance joined us to share about the CCA, it’s resources, and their work to increase colorectal screening among the African American community in the Philadelphia area.
MEETING RESOURCES
Recording: For those who missed the meeting, or if you’d like to review all or part of the meeting.
Here is a list of resources that were discussed.
Colorectal Cancer Alliance
Buddy Program
https://www.ccalliance.org/patient-family-support/buddy-program
Resource guide and other resources
https://www.ccalliance.org/patient-family-support/resource-guides
Perthera
https://www.ccalliance.org/colorectal-cancer-information/biomarkers
Facebook support group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/29075372469
Financial Assistance
https://www.ccalliance.org/patient-family-support/financial-assistance-program
Daily Chat 12-1 EST
https://www.ccalliance.org/patient-family-support/patient-family-support-group-chat
Helpline
877-422-2030
January 19 2022 Meeting: Living Beyond Breast Cancer
On January 19th, Stefanie Washburn joined to share about her organization, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and the resources available. Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit that connects people with trusted information and a community of support.
Below are links to resources that were shared during the meeting.
Here is a list of resources that we discussed. I have also attached the slides, and here is the video link: LBBC video
- We encourage navigators and other providers to sign up for our healthcare provider distribution list to receive updates about LBBC programs and services.
- On our healthcare provider hub are links to our Breast Cancer Helpline peer match support program, Guides to Understanding, landing pages for people with newly diagnosed early stage and metastatic breast cancer, and details about our Young Women’s initiative.
- Our brochure provides an overview of what we offer and can be shared with patients: LBBC: Connecting You. If you would like to order print copies, please contact me at swashburn@lbbc.org.
- You can visit these pages for information about the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund (financial assistance grant) and Reading for Reassurance (books for kids)
- Information about past and upcoming educational webinars and conferences for patients can be found here. We also post the recordings of all sessions. Details about our April Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer can be found here: Virtual conference on metastatic breast cancer
- LBBC resources for men with breast cancer can be found on this page, and www.malebreastcancercoalition.org is another useful resource.
Watch the recording.
December Meeting: Community Health Worker Resources
On December 15, Fern Gilkerson and Brian Jones, co-chairs of the PA Cancer Coalition’s Men’s Health Workgroup joined us to share about the work of the men’s health workgroup, and their 4-prong plan. They also provided a brief overview of CHW learning modules that are currently being developed, and should be finished in the spring. We will share those with the network when they are available.
For those that missed the meeting, or if you’d like to review all or part of the meeting, watch the Recording
November Meeting: LIVESTRONG at the YMCA
Amy Jacobs, Director of Community Integrated Health at the Harrisburg YMCA joined us to discuss the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program and other statewide efforts with chronic disease prevention programming.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is an evidence based program that helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and wellbeing. Participating YMCAs create a welcoming community in which SURVIVORS can improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships, and improve their quality of life. The program is open to any adult 18 year old or over living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. Participants do NOT need to be a member of the YMCA.
Many programs were put on hold during Covid-19. For information on programs in your areas, contact Amy Jacobs at amy.jacobs@ymcaharrisburg.org. There is also a virtual program option for those in areas without a program, or for those still not yet ready to return to in-person activities.
Missed the meeting or just want to review some of the presentation? Watch the recording here. Or view the Physical Activity Resources compiled during the meeting.
October meeting: Medicare Update
Zach Valentine, PA MEDI Regional Coordinator for south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania, and Jessica Lippert, PA MEDI Regional Coordinator for Central Pennsylvania, shared a Medicare Update. The presentation provided information on recent, ongoing, and future changes to Medicare including benefits, costs, and plans. Other impacts and trends for Medicare beneficiaries were also discussed. T
Missed the meeting, or just want to review some of the presentation? Watch the recording here.
July Workshop: Survivorship Planning
Dori Kuchta, Nurse Educator with Merck, presented on Survivorship Planning. She discussed:
- Discuss the importance of survivorship care planning;
- Describe the key components of a survivorship care plan;
- Consider how to integrate survivorship care plans into current practice models and processes;
- Respond to clinical challenges and considerations in the development of a survivorship care plan.
Missed the workshop, or just want to review some of the discussion? Watch the recording here.
June Meeting: Metrics to Show Value
In this meeting, we focused on how you can determine metrics and collect data on your navigation program to show it’s value. Karen Schwaderer from Allegheny Health Network and Angelique Cygan from Mount Nittany Medical Center shared why it’s important to collect data, how they have used data collected to justify growing their programs, and some ideas for data collection tools. this is one you’ll definitely want to catch up on if you weren’t able to join us.
Missed the meeting, or just want to review some of the discussion? Listen to the recording here
May Meeting: Transportation Challenges During Covid
In this meeting, Stacy Meyer shared about Butler Health System’s contract with Aire Ride to provide transportation for patients who are not on medical assistance and can’t access that transportation, and Valerie Hooper shared tips for helping patients access insurance benefits for transportation. We also learned about Ride Health and Uber Health -both provide non-emergency medical transportation. Studies have shown that they have reduced no-show rates and also provided a reduction in average ride cost. You can learn more on their websites:
Missed the meeting, or just want to review some of the discussion? Listen to the recording here.