About Us
The Atlantic Canada Oncology Network (ACON) is a community of health care practitioners working in cancer care in the four (4) Atlantic Provinces. It started in a conversation, during a meeting in 2008, when some practitioners remarked that they felt isolated in their work and their knowledge of one another’s provincial cancer care systems. They each realized they shared many of the same challenges in delivering quality care to patients. After seeking the input of colleagues at two key inter-provincial forums, the Atlantic Canada Oncology Network (ACON) was created. Its goal is to improve the quality and accessibility of cancer care in the Atlantic Provinces by helping oncology practitioners in Atlantic Canada better communicate, collaborate, and learn from one another.
The Network is made up of practitioners from a variety of disciplines and practice settings in Atlantic Canada: nurses, social workers, oncologist, general practitioners, pharmacists, physicists, dieticians, patient navigators, etc. People get involved in ACON in various ways. Some members participate in a “core” group that work on the administration of the network and specific committees, others keep informed as “corresponding” members and participate as they are available. With the creation of the website, some practitioners may participate simply by using the website and/or emailing information on local events or services. To have access to certain areas of the website, however, or to receive email updates, one has to become an ACON member. There is no fee to register as a member.
Through collaboration and information sharing, the objectives of ACON are to:
- identify common processes and gaps that impact cancer patients’ quality and access to care, from the perspective of front-line practitioners;
- improve cancer care provision through achievable actions;
- serve as a collaborative, multidisciplinary forum to address cancer care gaps across the spectrum of hospital and community care;
- be a resource to other stakeholders in addressing cancer care delivery to Atlantic Canadians.
The work of ACON is guided by the following principles:
- foster open communication and transparency
- build collaborative capacity
- improve efficiencies and avoid duplication with other initiatives
- focus energies on achievable actions that are patient-focused
- encourage and support partnership development
- obtain multi-disciplinary input in identifying priorities
ACON is a group of oncology practitioners working on the challenges that we each face in day-to-day work. But to work together effectively, we needed a better way to communicate. After seeking the input of colleagues across the Atlantic Provinces in two inter-provincial forums, it was agreed that a mechanism to foster communication and collaboration among Atlantic Canada practitioners was a key missing link. This website became the first “action” of ACON, and was created to enable information sharing on local resources in each community, link practitioners with each other, share info on upcoming events and educational resources, and provide a forum for discussion and seminars. Already the membership has identified travel to treatment in Atlantic Canada as the next challenge to tackle, and a working group has been struck on this topic. Additional topics will continue to be discussed as they arise through the membership.
If you are interested in joining, click on How to Join ACON
