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Family Practice Oncology Network

Bringing the lens of primary care to BC Cancer, and providing cancer care education and resources for primary care providers throughout BC and the Yukon.

New learning opportunities & resources:

  • April 5 Virtual Conference: BC Cancer's FPON Education Day for Primary Care - Gastrointestinal Cancers - Register HERE
Education Opportunities

GPO Education Programs

 

BC Cancer developed the GPO Education Program in 2004, with the support of UBC's Department of Family Practice Enhanced Skills Program, and with input from many family physicians and oncologists. Special thanks are also extended to BC Cancer physicians and members of the GPO Education Program Working Group who deliver the education and ensure the currency and value of the curriculum.


One hundred and fifty-three family physicians from 33 communities have completed the program to date and are actively practising as General Practitioners in Oncology. (See GPO Map of BC) BC Cancer also trains GPOs and Nurse Practitioners for its various sites through this program.

More about GPO Education Program

 
The Network strives to provide directly relevant, accessible oncology continuing medical education opportunities for primary care providers in BC and the Yukon. Case Study Days, conferences and learning sessions are held throughout the year.

 
Current issue: Fall 2024

A means to keep family physicians informed on new initiatives and developments, and to promote awareness of resources and opportunities.


The Journal is published every spring and fall and distributed to every BC/Yukon family physician. 


Communication & Journal of Family Practice Oncology are going Digital: 

Beginning in the Fall of 2022, the FPON journal & communications will be delivered directly to your digital device - no more paper copies! 


To subscribe, sign up through the sign up button link below, or by scanning the QR code.  A copy of future communications and journals will come directly to your digital device. Questions? Please contact us at fpon@bccancer.bc.ca

Sign Up Here   QR Code.PNG

‎Access Previous Issues

 

Presented in partnership with UBC's Division of Continuing Professional Development, webcasts are held 8-9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) the third Thursday of every month (except July, August and December). Our complimentary webcasts provide opportunity to participate in topical, interactive oncology presentations from anywhere with Internet access.


Accreditation

This Group Learning program has been reviewed and approved by the UBC Division of Continuing Professional Development. This Group Learning course meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for 1 Mainpro+ credit per session.


This program was co-developed with UBC CPD and BC Cancer , Family Practice Oncology Network (FPON) and was planned to achieve scientific integrity, objectivity and balance.

More about Webcasts

 

The network develops brief, practical cancer care guidelines for primary care often in collaboration with the BC Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee.

Browse Guidelines 


About Family Practice Oncology Network

Group of smiling people chatting while wearing name tags

Initiated in 2002, Family Practice Oncology Network programs and initiatives have grown to include:
In 2017, BC Cancer established its Provincial Primary Care Program of which the Network and all its initiatives are a part. The Primary Program is building on the Network's success, expanding to bring the voice of primary care to BC Cancer and facilitating communication throughout the cancer care system. See Moving Forward and Priorities tabs above for details. 



 

‎All initiatives of the Provincial Primary Care Program will align with the upcoming Ministry of Health/BC Cancer Strategy for Cancer Care including the transformation of family physician practices and health authority primary care clinics into team-based Patient Medical Homes linked together in Primary Care Networks, and supported by the Specialized Community Services Program now under development. 


Priorities: 

  • Advocate for improved access to appropriate clinical resources/services for patients;
  • Develop practice tools for supporting patients with cancer; and
  • Provide education and training for physicians

Purpose:

  • Provide oncology-based education and resources for community-based primary care providers
  • Bring the primary care lens to oncology care and improve continuity of care
  • Work with Primary Care Networks and Patient Medical Homes to enhance care
  • Support Specialized Community Services Program in Cancer Care


 

‎With a 40% increase in cancer diagnoses in Canada projected by 2030, BC Cancer is working to provide significantly more support to family physicians beginning with plans to better integrate  primary care into the cancer care continuum. This began with the 2017 establishment of the Provincial Primary Care Program - the expansion and evolution of the Family Practice Oncology Network. 


Primary Care Needs Assessment:

To inform the development of this more comprehensive program, the Network conducted a province-wide needs assessment with UBC's Division of Continuing Professional Development. The assessment aimed to determine the current and unmet needs of family physicians providing care for patients throughout the continuum of cancer care. 


Completed in September 2018, the assessment included key interviews, a comprehensive survey, and five focus groups. Each phase collected information pertaining to the core issues surrounding the current and future provision of cancer care and the most effective role that family physicians can play. 


The results of this assessment, together with further strategic discussions, will guide the vision and focus of the Provincial Primary Care Program, and inform BC Cancer's relationship with primary care. 


Primary Care Needs Assessment Executive Summary, Sept 2018


Primary Care Needs Assessment Final Report, Sept 2018 (full report)


Building Bridges, Strengthening Care: Summary of Strategic Discussions, Oct 19, 2018


Summary Poster, Nov 2018


Related Resources:

Journey Mapping in Cancer Care, Feb 2019
BC Patient Safety & Quality Council

Guidelines and Resources

These guidelines are prepared according to the Advisory Committee format: easy-to-use, evidence-based and taking a proactive approach to the management of cancer as a chronic disease.

To date we have co-published guidelines on Lung Cancer (2021), Prostate Cancer (2020), Palliative Care (updated 2017), and Female Genital Tract Cancers (2014-2016), and contributed to guidelines for Colorectal (2013) and Breast Cancer (2013) in partnership with the BC Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee (GPAC).

In 2016, we published independently produced guidelines for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers.

 


 

 

 

Published jointly with the BC Guidelines & Protocols Advisory Committee in September 2020:

Prostate Cancer Part 1: Diagnosis and Referral in Primary Care
Prostate Cancer Part 2: Follow-up in Primary Care

Working Group Members (PDF)

 
 
Guidelines Evaluation
The Family Practice Oncology Network took part in a project, funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, to evaluate the awareness and use of clinical practice guidelines for breast and colorectal cancer released in 2013.

View the Final Report (PDF) and Evaluation Summary (PDF) published in June and August 2015 respectively.
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