Speakers at the Tri-State American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network forum, moderated by Virginia Calega, MD, vice president of Medical Management and Policy at Independence (far left).
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) hosted the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ASC CAN) Tri-State Forum on Palliative Care and Pain Management for over 50 guests from the oncology community, including clinicians, patient advocates, academics, and business leaders. ACS CAN is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization working diligently to make cancer issues a priority for legislators and policy makers.
Virginia Calega, MD, vice president of Medical Management and Policy at Independence, moderated a discussion about the importance of increasing education and access to palliative care and appropriate pain management services for people in active cancer treatment as well as survivors.
Experts from Jefferson Health, Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, and Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children shared research and insights on palliative care and pain management in practice. In addition, Jennifer Singleterry, senior analyst, ASC CAN, provided an update from a regulatory perspective, discussing the organization’s priorities and highlighting recent progress.
“If we focus on the patient who is at the center of the care, we’ll make the right decisions. Patient-centered care is really the key for us moving forward,” Dr. Calega concluded at the end of the discussion.