Background:The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) is responsible for the provision of cancer treatment, prevention, early detection programs, research, and education services to the people of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. As the Canadian cancer control strategy matures and is implemented through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, there has been an increased emphasis on evidence based evaluation and decision-making.
Aim:By measuring outcomes and establishing performance indicators we can answer the question: “is the SCA really doing the right program activities to bring about the appropriate outcomes for SCA clients?”
Methods:To help answer this question, the SCA has access to a wealth of information systems available internally and externally, Cancer Registry, electronic health record, screening program for breast cancer, prevention program for cervical cancer, screening program for colorectal cancer, and other databases. Recently the SCA has incorporated a performance measurement function to the already established Epidemiology Department in order to carry out analyses and interpretation of performance related cancer control data. This includes work in cost analysis and quality indicator development and ongoing measurement.
Results:We will present: 1) how the department in functioning with this new scope, 2) how performance indicator development is being implemented across the SCA, and 3) lessons learned in establishment as well as gaining traction in using performance measures in planning and evaluation across the organization.
Conclusions:Despite evidence that well established performance measures are a valid method for ongoing planning and evaluation, implementing these measures across a large and diverse cancer control organization can be challenging.