Statement of Collaboration
Preamble
A Regional Cancer Program (RCP) is a virtual program that provides a
collaborative framework uniting cancer care providers in the common cause of
improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of cancer services in
each Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) across Ontario.
Accordingly, the Waterloo-Wellington RCP will link together cancer care
providers, organizations, patients and decision makers representing the full
spectrum of cancer care services (prevention, screening, diagnosis,
treatment, supportive and palliative care) from across the Waterloo
Wellington region.
The Waterloo-Wellington RCP will be guided by mutually accepted principles
in pursuit of the shared goal of improving patient access to cancer
services, ensuring compliance with provincial cancer care standards and that
service delivery is integrated and coordinated.
The purpose of this document is to define the principles and objectives that
will guide the formation and development of the RCP in the region and to
identify those organizations willing to commit their best efforts to the
realization of said principles and objectives.
The Objectives
The members agree that the following will constitute the primary objectives
of the Waterloo-Wellington RCP:
- To ensure regional service planning as an input into province-wide decisions;
- To identify local strategies for service integration, co-ordination, and quality improvement;
- To facilitate patient and consumer involvement in planning and evaluation activities;
- To improve care through information and standards dissemination;
- To evaluate and report on performance;
- To respond to performance results with appropriate strategies; and
- To support one another in the pursuit of needed resources to advance the
objectives of the program.
Guiding Principles
The members support the RCP vision of improved and integrated cancer care
delivery, one that reduces the burden of cancer for the residents of
Waterloo-Wellington and that ensures equitable access to the full spectrum
and highest quality of affordable and appropriate cancer care services as
may be required to meet their needs.
In pursuit of this vision, the members agree that the following principles
will guide their behaviours, actions and decisions:
Excellence in Patient Care. The members are committed to the common cause of ensuring excellence in the delivery of patient care. In pursuit of that standard, they agree to act in good faith at all times and to ensure best efforts are given to the achievement of these overarching principles.
Partnership. The members agree to respect the needs, interests, cultures and responsibilities of one another for consistent, equitable, fair and reliable dealings. They will recognize the roles, competencies, diversity, worth and contributions of all practitioners and staff who are or who may be associated with the RCP. They will engage in open, honest, courteous and non-judgmental communication and acknowledge the needs of others to be involved in decisions which may affect their interests and roles pursuant to these undertakings.
Accountability. In demonstrating their accountability to the integrity of this undertaking, the members will ensure that all patients receive an appropriate level of care in an appropriate setting. They will act responsibly in accordance with professional and clinical service standards, use resources wisely and efficiently, share information deemed vital and relevant to their agreement(s), and measure and report on performance and accomplishments against pre-determined benchmarks and planned outcomes.
Innovation. The members are steadfastly committed to acting upon and contributing to the latest advances in medical technology and best practices. Accordingly, in pursuit of the objectives of the program, they will undertake to develop appropriate polices, procedures and mechanisms aimed at fostering a mutual understanding and environment that encourages individual initiative, creativity and problem solving.
Undertakings
The RCP will adopt a structure for the planning, decision-making and
implementation of appropriate actions and initiatives that reflect the
objectives of the program and the needs of the stakeholders. This structure
will, inter alia, be responsible for:
- Developing a strategic plan for the integration and delivery of cancer care services to the population of Waterloo-Wellington;
- Developing appropriate performance indicators to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of cancer care services across the RCP;
- Establishing common standards and integrated policies and protocols for monitoring quality, utilization and access indicators in the delivery of cancer care services to the population of Waterloo-Wellington;
- Establishing and maintaining effective communications and linkages with all stakeholders; and
- Addressing such other issues and matters as may be deemed pertinent and important to the goals of the RCP.
The members agree that the Regional Vice-President of Cancer Services
will provide leadership in the formation, development and implementation of
the RCP, and will identify and engage all stakeholders in pursuit of the
stated objectives of the RCP.
The members agree to establish and support an RCP Steering Committee, with
well-defined responsibilities and operating guidelines, to develop
appropriate strategies and pursue initiatives that will adequately address
the objectives of the RCP. Any decision or recommendation made by the
Steering Committee shall be made in good faith and strictly upon the merits
of the matter in respect of which a decision is required.
The RCP will have an information reporting relationship to Cancer Care Ontario, Waterloo Wellington LHIN, all members and stakeholders of interest, including physicians, consumers and patients.
The RCP will establish specific performance indicators, benchmarks and metrics based on the province-wide standards set by Cancer Care Ontario.
The members agree to the guiding principles set out in this declaration and undertake a commitment to:
- Provide shared leadership in guiding the formation, development and organization of the cancer services system in the region of Waterloo-Wellington;
- Develop and support the implementation of a regional cancer care services model that ensures ongoing sustainability in the delivery of services across the continuum of care required by patients and their families;
- Develop collaborative and productive working relationships with other cancer and cancer-related initiatives both inside and outside the region.