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Biomedical subjects

W T McGivney

Publications and source records attributed to W T McGivney.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The NCCN/American Cancer Society partnership.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) partnered with the American Cancer Society two years ago in an effort to translate the NCCN Practice Guidelines for professionals into guidelines for patients. The response from patients to the first two guidelines was overwhelmingly positive. The following panel discussion provides some background information on this alliance and discusses the development and highlights of their latest collaboration, the Colorectal Cancer Patient Guidelines.

American Cancer Society↗
PubMed2000

National Cancer Policy Board Report.

While collecting information for a consumer pamphlet to assist cancer patients in navigating through the medical system, the National Cancer Policy Board discovered the data that were available were critically insufficient. In response, the turned their attention to analyzing our ability to assess quality of cancer care. Their findings along with ten recommendations were published in April 1999. In particular, their conclusions concerning data collection and volume outcomes surprised many in the oncology community. These comments along with five of their recommendations--high-volume settings, standard guidelines, the elements of quality care, measuring and monitoring quality care, and end-of-life care--are presented in this panel discussion.

Health Policy↗
PubMed1998

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network: present and future directions.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has developed an extensive set of practice guidelines that cover approximately 90% of all cancer patients. These guidelines are steadily becoming the standard for clinical and coverage policy. The guideline development process is integrated directly with the development of a multiinstitutional data base that will permit measurement of adherence of practice to the NCCN guidelines and provide important clinical and other outcomes data. The NCCN is forming partnerships with managed care companies in the guideline/data base area to facilitate the delivery of more effective and efficient care in oncology.

Cancer Care Facilities↗
PubMed1998

Panel discussion. Data needs in cancer.

A prospective, comprehensive outcomes database was recently initiated by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) after a 2-year study to test data collection methods and systems. It started with data on 400 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer at five NCCN sites, and over the next 3 years is projected to grow to include more than 12,000 patients with common cancers treated at all eligible NCCN sites. Among the goals of the database are: 1) to establish the capability to select, analyze, and report patterns of care and outcomes; 2) to allow NCCN members to assess their compliance with NCCN clinical practice guidelines and benchmark their performance against the rest of the NCCN; 3) to establish a true databased continuous quality improvement program; 4) to support clinical disease-oriented research and methodologic studies; and 5) to provide the NCCN with a vehicle for forging partnerships with others in the health-care field, such as the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and accrediting bodies. Many of those potential partners were represented on this panel. Panelists discussed the data needs of their organizations, what they are doing to meet those needs, and how a comprehensive database will ultimately help improve patient care.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Hurdles to technology diffusion: what are expectations for PET?

Regulatory and economic hurdles to the introduction and the diffusion of expensive new medical instrumentation have changed substantially over the past decade. The process of diffusion has been slowed by the introduction of new hurdles and by the gradual shift in their relative importance. FDA approval, affirmative coverage decisions, and the setting of appropriate levels of reimbursement greatly influence the diffusion and utilization of major new technologies. Positron emission tomography (PET) is not an exception. This paper examines the mechanics of these hurdles and their impact on the availability of PET.

Diffusion of Innovation↗
PubMed1990

Regulation, coverage, and reimbursement of medical technologies.

Two major barriers to the introduction and diffusion of medical devices exist. First, devices must be cleared for marketing by The United States Food and Drug Administration, as mandated by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976. Second, third party payers are now making explicit determinations about whether or not to cover the specific applications of medical devices and about appropriate levels of reimbursement. This paper illustrates these processes which are based upon the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and examines the implications of the processes for the innovation and availability of such technology.

Diffusion of Innovation↗
PubMed1989

Cost issues.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Preservation of food products by irradiation.

The use of irradiation to preserve food has the potential to significantly enhance our capacity to maximize the quality and quantity of the food we consume. In a world in which distribution of food occurs across continents and in which malnourished populations are in dire need of basic food products, any safe, effective, and efficient means of preserving food is more than welcome. Irradiation, as a method for food preservation, has been studied for more than 30 years. This discussion focuses on this most recent method for the preservation of food with particular emphasis on its effects on the safety, nutritive, and aesthetic values of the food preserved by irradiation. The use of ionizing radiation as a method to preserve foods is one that has been demonstrated to be effective for a variety of food classes. Irradiation offers a means to decontaminate, disinfest, and retard the spoilage of the food supply. At the same time, it appears that the wholesomeness of these food products is maintained. Nutritive value can be sustained by use of effective doses of radiation. Concerns over the safety of irradiated food are rooted in questions regarding the potential induction of radioactivity, harmful radiolytic products, and pathogenic radiation-resistant or mutant strains of microorganisms. Research findings have allayed concerns over safety. However, more research is necessary to conclusively resolve these safety issues. Food irradiation is a promising technology that has and will contribute to our ability to feed the people of this world. This technology is but one of many available ways to preserve our greatest natural resource, the food supply. Enhancement of the ability to preserve food by irradiation will facilitate the distribution of food from fertile developed regions to the malnourished peoples of underdeveloped countries. It is in diminishing the problem of malnourishment and starvation that irradiation as a means to preserve food may find the greatest acceptance.

Food Irradiation↗
PubMed1988

Technology assessment in medicine. The role of the American Medical Association.

Public policy decisions about health care and decisions about an individual patient's care are only as sound as the data and information on which they are founded. The formal systematic evaluation of the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of a medical technology provides such information and is essential to the appropriate application of technology in patient care. The American Medical Association (AMA) historically has recognized the need for the practicing medical community to develop and communicate accurate and balanced evaluative information to physicians and other health care professionals. In recent years, the association has established formal programs to accomplish this objective. This article describes the AMA's three major assessment programs, the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology Assessment program, the Council on Scientific Affairs, and AMA Drug Evaluations. The implications of these activities for patient care and public policy are discussed.

American Medical Association↗
PubMed1984

The care of patients with severe chronic pain in terminal illness.

The care of terminally ill patients with severe chronic pain should provide treatment that permits these patients to close their lives with dignity and purpose. Analgesics, both opioid and nonopioid, are available and when properly used can provide effective relief of pain for most terminally ill patients. It is incumbent on the physician and on all others who care for the dying patient with severe chronic pain to understand clearly the dynamics of the pain experience, the clinical pharmacology of analgesics, and the needs of the patient, family, and friends.

Analgesics↗