The VICC Office of Patient and Community Education (OPACE)
Cancer patient education and community outreach activities are planned and implemented through OPACE which has developed programming that now reaches more than 70,000 people each year. The goal of OPACE is to empower health care consumers to make informed decisions along the cancer care continuum through communication, education, and outreach initiatives.
Advocacy
The Research Advocacy Program is comprised of trained cancer survivors/caregivers who support VICC research programs by providing a unique patient perspective to researchers who design and implement translational research studies. Through education, collaboration and outreach, patient advocates play a critical role in helping researchers bridge the gaps between science and patient care.
Cancer Information Program 1-800-811-8480
The Cancer Information Program, established in 1997, is designed to provide accurate and timely information, primarily by telephone, about cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment services and clinical trials at the VICC to consumers, health care professionals and others. Staffed by three full-time oncology nurses, the program receives approximately 3,000 inquiries per year.
Cancer Patient Education
The cancer patient education program plans and implements cancer patient education programs and provides educational resources to assist patients in making informed decisions about their cancer care.
The Patient Resource Center is a one-stop information resource for cancer-related issues for anyone that has been touched by cancer. It includes free brochures, pamphlets and access to web-based information, as well as a staff member to assist you. For more information, please call 615-322-9799.
VICC has teamed up with the Cancer Help Institute to implement the use of touch-screen computers that assist patients/caregivers to easily access credible patient information from the National Cancer Institute in the inpatient or outpatient areas.
Community Outreach
The VICC coordinates numerous community outreach programs each year in partnership with community agencies such as the American Cancer Society, Gilda’s Club Nashville, Komen Foundation, The Wellness Community and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Programs include cancer screenings; health fairs; cancer awareness month and survivorship programs. For a list of some of these agencies, see our Community Partners page.
NCI’s Cancer Information Service
The VICC supports the NCI-Cancer Information Service (CIS) Partnership Coordinator for Middle and West Tennessee and Alabama, through a contract with the University of Kentucky. The CIS works with organizations that reach people in particular need of cancer information and services with the focus on reaching minorities and people who are medically underserved.
