|
It has been some time since the last published update on the grossing guideline and, there is much to report. So, without further ado, off we go.
For those of you who attended the 40th annual AAPA conference in New York, I had the opportunity to announce my departure from the AAPA meeting a bit early. The exit from the AAPA meeting in New York took me to the beginning of my participation at the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) meeting in Chicago. As I told those of you at the AAPA meeting, in many ways, our relationship with the AJCC is being built on the foundation of the grossing guideline. It is our endeavor to serve our patients and the passion to see it through that is defining our group. Please do not take this to diminish our duty at the gross bench as that is the task we are most known for. However, to take ownership of the task and author a document such as we are is an extension of our profession that is highly visible and seen as appropriate by the other stakeholders in healthcare. When I was given the opportunity to introduce the AAPA as the 20th member association of the AJCC, I was pleasantly surprised to hear surgeons, pathologists, radiation oncologists, clinical oncologists, and international physician groups extend a warm welcome, many wondering why it took so long for our inclusion in the AJCC. At the present time, within the AJCC I have been appointed a member of one of the standing committees. It is my hope, to offer what I can to the committee while continuing to promote our group. I will do this with the same orientation I have asked you to maintain while serving on the guideline – with our patients in mind.
For the sake of context, let me also pass on that the 8th edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual has a core of about 220 experts, has been developed over a period of decades, and is benefited by a budget of about $800,000. I suppose, I should also mention that the main support of the AJCC, the American College of Surgeons, has about 79,000 members. In contrast, our guideline has a core of about 100 experts, is about 2 years old (from concept to present) and, until about two months ago, had no official budget aside from what the BOT approved as independent expenditures. In addition, our membership base is at 1,600. Given the contrast between the two endeavors, and that this project represents the largest undertaking by our group, I am not surprised that there have been some bumps in the road. The most recent “bump” for me personally comes in the form of a missed deadline. When I was asked to write the pre-conference grossing guideline update there was an established deadline of 10 protocols to the CAP by the time our New York conference began. The deadline passed and, not a single additional protocol was given to the CAP. In fact, at present, the only protocol at CAP is the vagina protocol. However, the work of the last several months involving vision and process are proving beneficial. Moreover, the corporate office is back to full staff and the Board of Trustees has issued a budget of $50,000 for the grossing guideline. The allocated funds allow our office to hire a new individual to oversee publications. This individual, Rachel Czech, will help with the various publications the AAPA produces, but, specifically, and immediately, she will engage with the grossing guideline. It is my sense that this is probably the last major piece needed to aid in pushing this project forward and seeing it through. And, while the outward facing component of this project is, in my opinion, first to our patients, we cannot neglect the reality that we are also being observed by outside associations, including CAP and others. Thus, we have a responsibility to represent our group to these observers as well. It is my hope that the added corporate support aligned with our collective push will fast track the guideline – getting protocols to CAP and initiating a very important exchange between our groups.
Please keep in mind, you, our volunteer team, are, and will continue to be, the “heavy lifters.” As we push forward, please prepare for more heavy lifting. Specifically, we need to get the protocols completed and to the content review team quickly. And, as the editing teams return the protocols with questions and comments, please be diligent in performing the review and turning it around in a timely manner so that we can get the protocols back in the editing process as soon as possible.
Our next major deadline is to have 1/3 of the protocols (22) to CAP by the end of the year. Keep in mind that these protocols have to go through several layers of editing and approvals before going to CAP. Therefore, I would ask that all sections focus on meeting a new completion deadline of October 31, 2014.
I have said it before and I will say it many times again – it is an honor to serve with you. And, I cannot say thank you enough! If our level of ambition is high, and we resolve to provide a thorough initial work, and stay engaged and active through the editing process, I think it is possible to see the entire guideline completed within the calendar year 2015. And every protocol that we send to CAP for review is another opportunity for someone to notice that we stand as experts in what we do – performing our task for the sake of our patients. In my opinion, that alone is enough to build a personal and professional legacy. However, I can also see more. Specifically, I believe in the coming years, some of you will find that serving on this grossing guideline project will translate into an invitation to contribute as an expert on the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. And this will not simply happen by coincidence. We are all on the path to expert status. Completing the guideline is the flag unfurled that shows we belong and have much to offer!
All the best,
Jon Wagner, PA(ASCP)cm
Editor in Chief, Grossing Guideline Ad Hoc Committee
Chair, Board of Trustees
|
|
