What's New at the Decatur Community Partnership

Decatur sent five individuals to the annual meeting in Boston, MA late January 2008. The group consisted of 1 HCP Lead Trainer, 3 CL Lead Trainers and 1 non-trainer Strategy Team member. The combination of individuals from our site made for highly interactive and productive discussions during our breakout sessions during the meeting.

During the meeting, we were asked to brainstorm on local policy barriers that limited access to cancer clinical trials. We had a multitude of ideas we took back to our strategy team. The strategy team decided which 2 barriers were the most feasible to accomplish, had the most passion behind them, and if the necessary resources were available.

The strategy team had come to the consensus of removing the barriers of 1) lack of physician knowledge - by working to educate primary care physician with a one-on-one short lunch time presentation that mimics that job of a pharmaceutical rep. We felt we had qualified and interested individuals that could easily accomplish the goal, and 2) improving informed consent form process – by implementing the short informed consent form and/or other consent process considerations. We have an ad hoc committee that has had their first meeting and includes the local IRB chairman as well as those closely involved with ENACCT and/or clinical research that could have great influence on this barrier.

Concentrating our efforts on something other than direct education is definitely a change of pace and has infused new energy and enthusiasm as well as broadened our reach to individuals that otherwise would not be closely linked to the grant! We look to 2008 to bring about lasting changes that not only increase awareness, but accessibility and accrual by eliminating some local barriers!