Clinical Centers of Excellence - Prostate Cancer: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Selection criteria

National awards and recognition

National Cancer Institute Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Prostate Cancer

Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program Clinical Consortium Award (this award supports the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium, coordinated by MSKCC)

Number of referrals to Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancer

Annual visits (2008) – 44,579

Annual new visits (2008) – 5,834

Annual new visits for prostate conditions (2008) – 3,309

Patient satisfaction survey results

Overall satisfaction – 89.2% (n=202)

Likelihood of recommending physician – 95.4%

Likelihood of recommending facility – 96.1%

Follow-up care programs (secondary prevention, patient compliance)

Care provided for patients at a follow-up clinic who have undergone surgery for early stage prostate and renal cell cancers. The clinic offers comprehensive services, including a history and physical, screening for recurrence, surveillance for other cancers, education on long-term effects of treatment, and healthy living recommendations. In 2008, the follow-up clinic provided care to over 1,200 urology cancer survivors.

Quality improvement initiatives under way and systems in place to prevent errors

Electronic Adult Treatment Order: Implemented at the center in September 2008. The clinician order entry system for chemotherapy administration provides numerous safety checks throughout the prescribing and drug preparation process.

Patient Portal: In April 2008 the center implemented a private, personalized online medical chart through which patients can securely access information about their care. It provides patients with e-mail to their primary physician's office, access to appointment and billing information, the ability to update their contact information, and more.

Evidence of incorporating research and clinical care

Annual visits to the center's Experimental Therapeutics Center (2008) – 2,792

ETC staffing: 1 clinical research nurse, 2 patient care technicians

More than half of all men with prostate cancer participate in clinical trials

Research developed through the SPORE and the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium is regularly integrated into clinical care.

Participation in national therapeutic initiatives (e.g., the National Cancer Consortium)

Funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Department of Defense, the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium is composed of 13 institutions and coordinated by MSKCC. As of the end of 2008, 60 of the 78 study proposals submitted to the consortium have been approved. Between October 2005 and December 2008, 1,386 patients were entered into consortium phase 1 and 2 trials.