Cancer Committee

This group of professionals is responsible for ensuring people diagnosed with cancer, who are cared for at Avera McKennan and the Avera Cancer Institute, receive care which meets national standards set by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

These individuals are also responsible for the development and monitoring of cancer programming. Dr. Kristen Erickson , Radiation Oncologist with Medical X-Ray Center, leads the committee. Other sub-committee chairs include:

• Amy Ehli, RN BSN OCN
  Cancer Education Coordinator, Subcommittee Chair for Community Outreach
• Kirsten Erickson, M.D.
  Subcommittee Chair for Quality Improvement
• Diane Sneed, M.D.
  Subcommittee Chair for Quality Control of Cancer Registry Data

Activities of the Cancer Committee include:

• Quality of Care studies - Comparison of diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer and breast cancer compared to national standards of care
• Community Outreach - Prostate and skin screening (Melanoma Monday). Tobacco cessation information is made available in all clinics
• Tumor Conference - Weekly, multidisciplinary review of current cases for discussion of patient management issues
• Quality Control of Cancer Registry Data - ensuring accurate cancer patient data is abstracted into a database for reporting cases to the State Department of Health and for conducting studies to evaluate care compared to national standards
• Program Development - Advises and assists in the development of programming