Ovarian Cancer Task Force

In 2019, the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (CCCP) at the Rhode Island Department of Health was awarded a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support a demonstration project in raising awareness of Ovarian Cancer and facilitating its rapid diagnosis and treatment. The Partnership joined forces with the CCCP to form an ovarian cancer task force composed of survivors, providers and other stakeholders with experience in ovarian cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. An outline of our project and achievements is below. 

Survivors Teaching Students

Strategy 1: Implement Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance's Survivors Teaching Students Program in RI

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Survivors Teaching Students is an evidence-based program that connects ovarian cancer survivors and caregivers with healthcare students in medical education programs. Our task force implemented this program in Rhode Island at the following programs:

  • Nurse Practitioner—University of RI, RI College, Salve Regina University

  • Physician's Assistant—Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University

Webinar

Strategy 2: Organize Ovarian Cancer Updates webinar for PCPs, GYNs and GI Specialists (CME credit, 2 years post-broadcast) In Spring of 2020 

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The task force organized a webinar titled, Identifying Ovarian Cancer Symptoms: Promoting Early Diagnosis, Treatment and Improved Outcomes Through Rapid Referral. The event was delivered by Paul DiSilvestro, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist, on October 26, 2020.

 

The main target audience for this webinar are Primary Care Physicians and Physician Specialists (gynecologists, gastroenterologists), Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Medical Students, Residents, Fellows and other allied healthcare professionals engaged in the care of women.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

  • Describe the incidence of ovarian cancer nationally & in RI

  • Identify survivorship and quality of life advantages for patients referred rapidly after diagnosis to gynecologic oncologists

  • Outline evidence-based guidelines for effective symptom workup and indication for referral to gynecologic oncologist

  • Identify risk factors including genetic syndromes

  • Understand the national protocols for genetic testing and counseling eligibility

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This webinar is available for credit on-demand on the Brown CME website.

Roundtable

Strategy 3: Convene Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Roundtable (1.5 CME credits available 2 years post-broadcast) in Spring of 2020

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Another component of this demonstration project was a roundtable discussion titled, Making a Difference: Expediting Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. This event was hosted by leading multidiscipline experts and moderated by Teresa Paiva Weed, JD, President of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, on December 2, 2020.

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The main target audience for this webinar are Primary Care Physicians and Physician Specialists (gynecologists, gastroenterologists), Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Medical Students, Residents, Fellows, other allied healthcare professionals engaged in the care of women as well as insurers, policy makers, public health professionals, cancer advocacy organizations.

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Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the benefits of rapid referral of women with ovarian cancer to Gynecologic Oncologists

  • Recognize the factors that influence staging of ovarian cancer at diagnosis

  • Describe how expediting the process of differential diagnosis can improve overall outcomes

  • Appreciate the importance of cancer genetic testing and counseling and its relationship to obtaining a comprehensive cancer family history

  • Have access to tools to empower primary care providers and specialists to improve outcomes for women with ovarian cancer

  • Learn about other collaborative projects associated with this grant including RI’s Survivor’s Teaching Students® and projects completed through groups in Iowa and Michigan

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The recording of this roundtable event is available for credit on the Brown CME website.

Toolkit

The final piece of this demonstration project was to create a toolkit for patients and providers to access resources that will enable them to recognize the common symptoms of ovarian cancer and the importance of expediting diagnosis and referral of patients to gynecologic oncologists. This toolkit contains epidemiology resources, guidelines and tools for providers, provider education resources, and patient education resources.

Partnership to Reduce Cancer in RI
     405 Promenade St, Ste. C
Providence, RI 02908
     (401) 443-2375 ext. 517
     contact@prcri.org

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The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, 2021. The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Tax ID Number: 85-2361783

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This program is supported in part by Cooperative Agreement Number NU58DP006291, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and awarded to the Rhode Island Department of Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Rhode Island Department of Health.