Education, Training and Ongoing Updating for High-Quality Cancer Care: Programs and Technology for Tumor Boards and Case Discussions

Abstract

Background: The rapid advance in new knowledge of cancer etiology, creation of treatment guidelines, new technologies and medicines into routine practice and the need to understand cost and efficacy that underlie policy are daunting. Remaining current must be accomplished on top of increasingly busy clinical care requirements and patient numbers requires novel solutions. Education and training opportunities are available from professional societies, cancer programs, paid courses and written reviews, though person-to-person mentorship and expert opinion are vital to navigate the vast amount of information. Aim: To provide experience-based insight into addressing the challenge for professionals to maintain one's expertise in cancer care in countries at all income levels. Methods: The International Cancer Expert Corps and partner organizations are establishing a global and multisectoral network that builds human capacity and capability to establish sustainable cancer programs that function at world-class standards ( www.iceccancer.org ). The model utilizes in-person, in-country visits along with ongoing connectivity through telemedicine video conferences. The pioneering education Chartrounds program ( www.chartrounds.com ) is an example of initiative taken by those “in the field” which began in the U.S. and has recently expanded to include separate Web sites for India, Africa, and Latin America. Results: Chartrounds.com, a free Web-based conferencing platform providing disease-site based educational peer review sessions, exemplifies how global expertise can be shared, altruistic education is willingly provided by world-renowned experts and a method of providing practice changing education is possible while the responsibility for the decision-making and treatment implementation remain with the individual treatment center. Weekly experience by Chartrounds and ICEC is defining the complexity of telecommunications, especially problematic with low capacity bandwidth that tests the capacity for effective teleconferences requiring high-quality voice and image data. Conclusion: The enormous body of knowledge needed by cancer practitioners to provide state-of-the-art cancer care requires creative solutions for education, mentorship and telecommunications. That major research institutions such as the National Cancer Institute has invested in developing TELESYNERGY enhances the quality of cancer care and research that are necessary at the global level. Newer platforms are rapidly emerging and artificial intelligence and machine learning will soon assist with education and quality assurance tasks. For UICC members, recognizing present and emerging solutions is critical to best invest in resources and necessary personnel skill-sets to “leapfrog” into the newer enabling technology and approaches to help bring the best possible cancer care into resource-limited environments. The content is the personal opinion of the authors and not their organizations.