Wendy L. Poage, MHA, presented “Patient Advocacy for Prostate Conditions: Advocate Perspective.” during the 31st International Prostate Cancer Update in July 2021 in Snowbird, Utah.
How to cite: Poage, Wendy L. “Patient Advocacy for Prostate Conditions: Advocate Perspective.” July 2021. Accessed Apr 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/patient-advocacy-advocate-perspective/
Patient Advocacy for Prostate Conditions: Advocate Perspective – Summary
Wendy L. Poage, MHA, President of the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC), discusses a survey done with primary care physicians (PCPs), explains what PCEC, a non-profit advocacy group, has been doing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides action items to urologists to help with advocacy work. Giving the caveat that the survey was just a pilot study with fewer than 100 PCPs, Ms. Poage explains that the data show that even though 90 percent of PSA screenings for prostate cancer are performed by PCPs, only 68 percent of PCPs say it is a valuable test, suggesting that there may be some gaps in who receives screening. Ms. Poage emphasizes PCEC’s commitment to PSA screening, explaining that PCEC teamed up with LabCorp to provide online screening forms and in-person discussions and screenings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They also worked with MDxHealth on managing prostate cancer patients during the pandemic. Ms. Poage explains that they worked on a telehealth collaboration tool so prostate cancer patients could still receive treatment. She notes as well that PCEC also focuses on education for veterans, genetic risk groups, people exposed to environmental hazards, people of lower socioeconomic status, marginalized racial groups, and rural populations. Ms. Poage concludes with a call to action, asking urologists to host educational events and reach out to their primary care partners.
About The 31st Annual International Prostate Cancer Update:
The International Prostate Cancer Update (IPCU), founded in 1990, is a multi-day CME conference focused on prostate cancer treatment updates with expert, international faculty. It is led by expert physicians and is designed for urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Ms. Poage delivered this educational activity during the 31st iteration of the meeting in July 2021 in Snowbird, Utah.
