ONS Member Attends OVAC Hill Day
One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) is a collaborative group of national nonprofit organizations, including ONS, that works to encourage congressional representatives to support cancer-related issues on Capitol Hill. Recently, ONS member, Brian Highhouse, RN, OCN®, oncology nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, attended the OVAC Hill Day in Washington, DC, to meet with his elected representatives.
Highhouse met with his U.S. Senator Kelly Atoytte (R-NH). “It was a great experience to represent ONS at OVAC and advocate for funding to support cancer research and control programs,” Highhouse said. “I was able to meet volunteers from across the nation and learn the process of conducting a meeting with my representatives and humanizing the request by adding my person story to the funding request.” Highhouse encouraged other ONS members to get involved with advocacy and policy work as well.
Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day
Nearly 14 million cancer survivors are living in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With more than 1.5 million new diagnoses a year, cancer touches most Americans in some direct or indirect way. On June 5, the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation will be celebrating Americans living with cancer.
According to the Survivors Day Foundation, “It is a celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outreach to the community.” Through a coordinated social media campaign, the Survivors Day Foundation and the GW Institute hopes to reach as many survivors as possible. Follow them on Twitter @GWCancerInst and help spread the word to cancer survivors everywhere.
National Academy of Medicine Convenes With Leading Organizations
Since the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) released its 2014 report, Dying in America, many organizations, including ONS, have worked to close the gaps it uncovered. On May 23, 2016, NAM brought together members from 85 organizations in a working meeting dedicated to examining progress in the healthcare community. ONS participated in the meeting and illustrated the ways oncology nurses are at the forefront of palliative care.
According to NAM, “the group found encouraging examples of progress in care delivery, communication and advance care planning, professional education and development, policies and payment systems, and public education and engagement.” The meeting created a list of priority action items that will be the focus of the upcoming Roundtable on Quality Care for People With Serious Illness held at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineers, and Medicine. ONS Chief Executive Officer Brenda Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN, will represent ONS as a panel member during the roundtable.