Greg Maxfield, Navigating Cancer’s VP of Business Development, will speak at COA’s 7th Annual Conference in Las Vegas this March as part of their Patient Advocacy Program. The following is a guest blog post from Rose Gerber, COA’s Director of Patient Advocacy and a breast cancer survivor.
Rose provides some history and focus of COA’s Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) as well as agenda and registration information for this year’s event. We’re excited to be participating and hope you can join us.
COA Patient Advocacy Network and Program
by Rose Gerber, Director of Patient Advocacy/Breast Cancer Survivor, Community Oncology Alliance
I am pleased to share the news that Greg Maxfield, VP of Business Development at Navigating Cancer, will be one of our speakers during our patient advocacy program at our upcoming conference. Also speaking is distinguished guest, Utah Attorney General and colon cancer survivor, Mark Shurtleff. I am inviting each of you to attend and/or help us identify cancer survivors/advocates that would be interested in attending our conference to learn more about becoming a cancer care advocate.
Since 2003, COA, a non-profit organization has been advocating for cancer patients and their oncologists. COA’s primary objective is to protect and foster the community oncology delivery system, thus ensuring that cancer patients have access to high quality care in their communities. Each year COA’s annual national conference attracts oncologists, practice administrators, nurses and various health care professionals from across the U.S.
The Community Oncology Alliance Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) was created to provide a forum for patients, caregivers, survivors and all interested members of the cancer community to become more active participants in advocating for cancer care. Our patient advocacy program has a very unique leadership team. In addition to my extensive advocacy experience, I am also a breast cancer survivor. Our program is enhanced by Rick Frame, MD, a practicing medical oncologist at Utah Cancer Specialists in Salt Lake City. Dr. Frame serves as the Medical Chairman for CPAN.
In February 2011, during COA’s 6th annual conference, we launched our inaugural patient advocacy conference program. The patient advocacy program ran parallel to COA’s general conference track and was designed to educate and empower cancer patients and survivors in understanding how national policy issues ultimately impact local cancer care. Some of the issues that our attendees learned about included understanding the various types of cancer advocacy, how to lobby congress and how to use traditional and social media in reaching advocacy goals. The program was a success. Over 40 cancer survivors/advocates representing multiple cancer types and 14 states were in attendance. A very notable and memorable guest was Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff. Mr. Shurtleff is a colon cancer survivor and a patient of Rick Frame, MD. I am pleased to share that Mr. Shurtleff will be returning to our conference, once again inspiring his fellow cancer survivors.
Sample Agenda
Our March 2012 conference will provide cancer survivors/advocates with valuable information. A sampling of educational sessions include Patients Access to Quality Care, An Introduction to COA’s and COA’s Key legislative Issues, How Patients and Nurses Can Collaborate in Advocating for Cancer Care, Understanding How Insurance Policies Impact Cancer Patient Care, The Business Side of Patient Care, Accountable Care Organizations and Medial Homes & Accountable Care Organizations – What Are They and Why Should Patients Care?
In addition to networking with peers from across the U.S., advocate attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with physicians, nurses, administrators and various health care and industry professionals by joining the main conference luncheon educational sessions, and during exhibit hall visitation.
We are actively seeking conference attendees. The registration process is simple and the patient advocacy program costs are very affordable. COA has secured very affordable hotel rates at Caesars Palace and advocate attendees pay a registration fee of only $75. Click here for more information on registration fees and COA’s main conference track.
I hope to see you in Las Vegas!
Rose Gerber
Director of Patient Advocacy
www.coaAdvocacy.org
860-287-1586
roseg@coacancer.org