In the state of New York, as in many other states, public health law dictates that every cancer diagnosis must be reported to a statewide registry. To make sure this happens flawlessly at Winthrop University Hospital, Kathy Porchia, Cancer Registrar, uses cancer registry software from IMPAC.

“It’s the Cadillac of cancer registry software,” Ms. Porchia says. “It’s very easy to work with, very intuitive. I can run all standard reports as well as very specific reports as requested by physicians, residents, fellows or any else who may require data. I love it, and I can’t say enough about it.”

Ms. Porchia, who has been a cancer registrar for 20 years, relies on IMPAC software every day to complete a wide range of tracking, reporting and information management tasks. For example, her department receives a daily download of all coded cancers from the medical records department. Ms. Porchia’s team must comb through the data to find diagnoses that must be reported to the state. The team also receives pathology reports for all cancer diagnoses, which must be entered, reviewed and abstracted.

IMPAC cancer registry software aids in all these workflows, providing easy, intuitive access to a complete range of tools for tracking cancer case data, performing periodic caseload analyses, and evaluating the relative effectiveness of various therapies against multiple types of cancers.

Winthrop also has IMPAC’s pathology management software recently installed IMPAC’s pathology connect to automatically transfer anatomic pathology data into the cancer registry software to facilitate case finding and provide a thorough abstract without redundant data entry.

It’s also critical for Ms. Porchia’s team to frequently run standard and customized reports for hospital administration and physicians. IMPAC software allows her team to fulfill these requests quickly and easily.

“The other day, a physician came in and wanted to see the last 15 years of diagnoses for cancer of the appendix,” Porchia says. “This was in the morning, and he wanted it by lunchtime. He got it within 10 minutes of his initial request.”

In another instance, a resident physician from the pathology department asked Porchia for a 10-year survival report on stage 1 and 2 breast cancer. Again, with the IMPAC cancer registry software, Porchia was able to deliver the report in just a few minutes.

Fast, flexible and detailed reporting is also important during assessments by third-party evaluators.

“Our cancer program is approved by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer,” Porchia says. “We are reviewed every three years. My department provides a great deal of information necessary for accurate assessment, and the IMPAC cancer registry software helps me serve up the right reports at the right time.”

Porchia also praises the service and support she receives from her local IMPAC team. “The support I get from my local IMPAC representative, Karen Monahan, is wonderful,” states Porchia. “If I’m running a report and it needs customization, IMPAC customer service walks me through the steps and we get it solved.”