Quality Oncology Practice Initiative

The MaineHealth Cancer Care Network (MHCCN) is pursuing Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) certification for eight outpatient hematology-oncology practices in the network. In 2023, the MHCCN will be submitting for our first site survey, and once approved, this will make us the first health system in the nation to achieve this level of certification.

QOPI is a quality program through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), designed for outpatient oncology practices to foster a culture of self-examination and improvement. Participating practices can report on evidence-based quality measures and receive individual performance scores by practice, site, and provider, as well as benchmarked scores aggregated from all participating practices. Practices use this performance data to identify, develop, and implement quality improvement initiatives, leading to better care and better outcomes for their patients. Practices wanting to apply for QOPI certification must first complete the QOPI Certification Program Track and achieve a 55% or greater compliance. The MHCCN passed its first round of automated abstracting using CancerLinQ with an aggregate score of 67.6% - exceeding the required goal of 55%. In CY22, the MHCCN achieved a 73.6% aggregate score for the 20 QCP measures, demonstrating strong progress as we proceed with the certification process.

Nationally Accredited Programs in the Network

In 2022, MaineGeneral was surveyed for reaccreditation by the American Society of Clinical Oncology for the QOPI certification. In 2024, they will undergo CoC site survey for accreditation renewal.

In 2022, Mid Coast Hospital was reaccredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.

In 2022, Southern Maine Health Care was reaccredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. In 2023, they will undergo NAPBC site survey for accreditation renewal.

In 2022, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center was reaccredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. St. Mary’s was also reaccredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

Survivorship and Care Plans

The MHCCN Survivorship Program, under the leadership of Amy Litterini, PhD, has expanded its scope to include new programming and communication touchpoints for our patients.

Among program enhancements are a Surgical Oncology pre-habilitation pilot, helping patients to physically and mentally prepare for surgery before the actual procedure; our tobacco cessation and monitoring program, geared toward informing patients who use tobacco products post treatment about making healthy lifestyle choices; and a newly-launched digital Survivorship quarterly, Thrive, for adult survivors, caregivers, community partners, and clinicians across the network with content inclusive of every aspect of the cancer experience.

Sanyal Named Senior Medical Director for the MHCCN

In May 2022, Amit Sanyal, MD, MHCDS, was named Senior Medical Director, MHMG-Medical Oncology and Director, Division of Medical Oncology at MMC. He joins us from the Sister of St. Mary’s Health System, where he served most recently as Regional Director of Medical Oncology.

Dr. Sanyal graduated from one of the two most prestigious apex medical schools in IndiaPostgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research in Chandigarh. From there he pursued internal medicine training and his hematology/medical oncology fellowship both at the University of Wisconsin. He spent the next 16 years in professional practice in Madison, assuming the role of Regional Director in 2020. Dr. Sanyal is the consummate clinician, a thoughtful leader, and has a keen grasp of contemporary cancer care in a health system such as ours. He especially values our academic pursuits – both undergraduate and graduate hematology and oncology training and clinical research that we have established as foundational for our community and rural cancer care network.