What is a Regional Cancer Program?
Regional Cancer Programs are the networks of stakeholders, healthcare professionals and organizations involved in cancer prevention and care within each of the province’s 14 Local Health Integration Networks. Each is led by a Cancer Care Ontario Regional Vice President.
Created and funded by Cancer Care Ontario, Regional Cancer Programs are responsible for implementing provincial standards and programs for cancer care and ensuring service providers meet the requirements and targets set out in their partnership agreements with Cancer Care Ontario. Regional Cancer Programs respond to local cancer issues, coordinate care across local and regional healthcare providers, and work to continually improve access to care, wait times and quality.
Role of the Regional Vice President
Each Regional Cancer Program is led by a Cancer Care Ontario Regional Vice President (RVP), who also leads the program’s regional cancer centre. RVPs work with physicians, hospitals, cancer service providers, and patient and community groups to plan and implement improvements to cancer services in the region. They also lead the implementation of provincial cancer initiatives, including screening programs and quality improvements such as Computerized Physician Order Entry, Ontario’s online cancer drug ordering system.
RVPs report regularly to Cancer Care Ontario and their communities on the performance of the cancer system in their region. They advise Cancer Care Ontario on funding allocation for local cancer services and population needs. RVPs meet regularly through Cancer Care Ontario’s Provincial Leadership Council, a forum to share best practices and to drive new improvement initiatives.
Cancer Centre Development and Expansion
We are working with the Ontario government to build and expand regional cancer centres so that our cancer system will be able to meet the needs of patients in the years ahead. Our Capital Projects Office advises the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the regional cancer centres and their consultants in the development of cancer treatment facilities across Ontario.
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