Holistic view of patients with melanoma of the skin: how can health systems create value and achieve better clinical outcomes?

Abstract

Patients with skin cancer should be treated in healthcare units that ensure holistic and multidisciplinary approaches. Current healthcare units, especially those dedicated to cancer care, must evolve to integrated patient-centred systems. The current review presents a holistic health services perspective towards managing patients with melanoma of the skin, based on a literature search. It includes a detailed discussion on how this could impact on the patient, his or her quality of life and on service providers. Data from a multidisciplinary integrated practice unit, specialised in skin cancer, were also discussed, namely, for outcomes measurements, access to innovative treatments, valuebased healthcare, patient centricity and use of integrated systems. Epidemiology data, including disease determinants and risk factors, play an important role in defining measures, resources and management of these integrated cancer units. To optimise effective care and improve survival outcomes, integrated cancer clinics should comprise, in a patient-centred way, innovative treatments and technologies, along with continuous training and creation of multidisciplinary units of healthcare professionals. Measurement of outcomes, such as clinical, quality of life and cost, is decisive in determining affordability and access to the best available state-of-the-art care. Besides, treatment of melanoma has significantly improved over recent years, but with increasing costs, which brings a challenging mission to guarantee access to treatment and quality care. Value-based healthcare allows the achievement of better health outcomes and higher quality services while reducing the costs associated with the full-care cycle. Therefore, current healthcare systems should develop in line with health institutions' organisation and culture, increasing adherence to best practices and create value.

Cancer Incidence and Mortality among Petroleum Industry Workers and Residents Living in Oil Producing Communities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Skin melanoma is also associated with multiple risk factors which workers can be exposed to including occupational chemical exposures (e.g., arsenic) [ 80 ] and ultraviolet radiation [ 81 ] in outdoor workers, especially the latter as the most likely explanation for the increased risk in petroleum industry workers. Furthermore, the increased risk of multiple myeloma among petroleum employees in the present meta-analysis is supported by additional reviews [ 10 , 75 ] and the epidemiological evidence linking multiple myeloma with hydrocarbon exposure [ 82 , 83 , 84 ].…”

Multidisciplinary Care ofBRAF-MutantStageIIIMelanoma: A Physicians Perspective Review

“…In recent years, more cancer clinics have implemented an MDT treatment model to improve clinical outcomes in patients with various malignancies. Additionally, health care cost-saving benefits were observed in melanoma management because of the more efficient usage pattern of health care resources within an MDT clinic [57,58]. Although the scope and scale of these teams may vary by institution and cancer type, the end goal is to enhance multidisciplinary communication to optimize and individualize patient care.…”

Аналіз Захворюваності На Рак Шкіри Та Організації Надання Медичної Допомоги Хворим З Онкопатологією Шкіри В Житомирській Області

“…Тому всі медичні потужності, що надають медичну допомогу онкохворим в області -обласний онкологічний диспансер, онкологічні амбулаторні відділення та кабінети, хоспіси, приватні медичні заклади тощо, повинні опановувати інноваційні методи лікування та технології, орієнтовані на пацієнта. Важливими також вбачаються підтримка безперервного навчання персоналу та створення мультидисциплінарних команд медичних працівників [9].…”