Maclean’s highlights how data improve Canadian cancer care

A special supplement on innovations in cancer appearing in a recent edition of Maclean’s magazine contains an article highlighting how the Partnership’s data collection through efforts like electronic synoptic reporting and cancer system performance reporting is making a difference to cancer patients.

The article quotes Partnership CEO Shelly Jamieson and Dr. Geoff Porter, Expert Lead in Clinical Care, both speaking about how reporting on indicators through our Cancer System Performance Report has helped to ensure guidelines are closely followed when removing and analyzing lymph nodes, which can help determine whether a cancer has spread.

When the Partnership first began monitoring concordance with guidelines recommending the removal of 12 or more lymph nodes in colon cancer surgeries, the guideline was followed in as few as 56% of surgeries in some jurisdictions. Today, that number has grown in excess of 90% of surgeries in some provinces.