PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY GROUP OF ONTARIO

1. Best Practices and Continuous Improvement – as the official advisor on childhood cancer care and control to the Ministry of Health POGO is relied upon to address priority issues in the system to evaluate new treatments and anticipate resource requirements promoting evidence-based practice to achieve best outcomes equitable access and optimal use of resources in alignment with POGO’s Childhood Cancer Care Plan. 2. Planning and Monitoring – POGO leads the development and execution of POGO’s Childhood Cancer Care Plan; identifies collects maintains and makes available childhood cancer-related data; monitors performance patterns of care and conducts disease surveillance; promotes coordination and linkages among stakeholders; disseminates information in support of policy planning administration clinical management and public education. 3. Access and Education – POGO supports pediatric oncology professionals by continually developing and updating standards and guidelines designed to improve care for children with cancer. Additionally POGO undertakes a critical contribution via education and knowledge transfer activities to survivors patients their families and the public. 4. AfterCare – POGO’s provincial system of clinics for survivors of childhood cancer to ensure the appropriate and specific monitoring of health care for all survivors. 5. Financial Assistance – POGO helps families of children with cancer mitigate treatment-related out-of-pocket costs while away from home. 6. POGO Interlink Nurses – connect families and children with the supports and services needed at all stages of their cancer treatment. 7. POGO Research Unit – reflects a cross-section of research priorities within the field of childhood cancer control including surveillance forecasting epidemiological research program evaluation and survivorship studies as well as outcome and cost-benefit evaluations. 8. POGO Satellite Clinics – allow certain elements of childhood cancer care to be delivered to children with cancer closer to home in formalized satellite centres (community hospitals). 9. The POGO School and Work Transitions Program – designed to help survivors manage the transition to their post-secondary or employment goals. 10. Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA) experiencing cancer have unique needs when compared to children and older adults. The AYA initiative aims to enable program and service delivery in a coordinated care model across Ontario.