With Change Looming, Head and Neck Surgeons Look in the Mirror

Jeffrey Myers, MD, from M. D. Anderson noted that it is difficult to get the money to establish the kinds of registries Dr. Opelka wants to start.

Eight to ten years ago, an effort was made to start a cancer registry, but there was no enthusiasm for it because it wasn’t a Level I, sexy new drug design trial, so I think organizations like you’re with are going to have to put pressure to get funds available to get proper databases that work across organizations.

Dr. Opelka agreed with him. Recently, Congress has given funding to government agencies that can help registries spring to life. The registries that do emerge will survive if they can meaningfully contribute to defining quality improvement, reducing costs and informing patients, he said.

Progress is being made. We are very far along in this process, he said. And I’m hopeful that within this net three-to-six-month period, we will tie up a lot of these loose ends and begin to move forward.

©2009 The Triological Society