Michigan leads nation with highest active surveillance rates
International advocacy group awards MUSIC CQI for advancing cause of active surveillance for prostate cancer patients

We included a brief mention of this award in the July-August issue of Hospital and Physician Update, but wanted to provide additional details about why it matters.

Active Surveillance Patients International, or ASPI,* selected the longstanding Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan-sponsored Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative as the first recipient of its ASPI Special Award. The award recognizes MUSIC for diligently researching and promoting active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer patients in place of aggressive treatments.

ASPI is an international support and education group for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance. It offers them the knowledge they need to discuss their choice of care with their physician.

“We’re proud to announce that MUSIC is receiving the award for advancing the cause of active surveillance,” said Mark Lichty, chairman and co-founder of ASPI. “It should be the model for the rest of the U.S. to help men avoid unnecessary surgery or radiation that can cause significant side effects such as incontinence and impotence.”

MUSIC is a quality improvement consortium of urologists in Michigan (and a few centers outside of Michigan), funded by Blue Cross.

“I’m so proud of MUSIC and the urologists in Michigan who have worked closely with their patients to dramatically increase the acceptance of active surveillance among the provider and patient community,” said Dr. James Grant, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Blue Cross. “Michigan now has active surveillance uptake rates comparable to the highest in the world, thanks to the work of the urologists across the state participating in MUSIC.”

In 2014, MUSIC began an extensive active surveillance initiative with the goals of increasing the use of active surveillance for appropriate patients and improving the quality of active surveillance provided to these men. Since then, the number of low-risk prostate cancer patients managed with active surveillance in MUSIC has risen from approximately 50% to about 90%, compared to 60% nationally. What’s more, MUSIC leads the way with a 45% active surveillance uptake rate in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, compared with 20% nationally.

Kevin Ginsburg, M.D., the co-director of MUSIC’s prostate program, said the award is especially meaningful because it was presented by ASPI, a patient-run advocacy group.

“The MUSIC purpose statement is ‘a community that partners to improve patients’ lives by inspiring high-quality care through data-driven best practices, education and innovation,’” he said. “Patient-centered care and improving patients’ lives are at the foundation of what we aspire to achieve in MUSIC.”

The ASPI Awards committee also was impressed by MUSIC’s close collaboration between prostate cancer patients and urologists, as well as MUSIC’s advances in cutting-edge research and promotion of transperineal biopsies to eliminate risks of infection from biopsies.

To read more about MUSIC see this article from the July-August issue of Hospital and Physician Update article or check out the Collaborative Quality Initiatives section of valuepartnerships.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.