ASCO University® Releases 2015 Curricula for Advanced Practice Providers (ACAPP™)

ASCO University has released an updated version of ASCO’s Curricula for Advanced Practice Providers (ACAPP^™). This popular series assists with the orientation of advanced practice providers (APPs) into oncology practices—a growing need as increasing numbers of APPs are hired to meet the demand for team-based care.

Practices can choose to purchase either a general curriculum or individual, tumor-focused curricula. The general curriculum, which contains basic and premium levels of content, is designed for newly graduated APPs or those beginning oncology practice, whereas the tumor-specific curricula provide in-depth digital education on specific tumor types for APPs with more clinical oncology experience.

“ACAPP, which is vetted through the ASCO University Editorial Board, has been a dynamic program since its inception in 2013,” said Heather M. Hylton, MS, PA-C, Lead Physician Assistant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, member of the ASCO University Editorial Board and primary collaborator on the 2015 ACAPP. “Program content is updated each year, and now the program will be taken to the next level: ASCO is collaborating with the Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology, the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology, and the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association to build a curricular framework upon which future content for ACAPP will be created.”

This year’s updated program contains new courses in the general curriculum, such as hematopoietic growth factors, radiation oncology primer, and infectious disease/use of antibiotics. The updated tumor-focused packages include the cancer genetics and the tumor genomics programs, two of ASCO University’s largest and most popular resources. Table 1 includes a complete list of currently available ACAPP courses, as well as courses that will be released throughout the year.

ASCO University will collaborate with other organizations representing APPs to enhance the curricular backbone of the ACAPP program and address unmet areas of education.

“ASCO has been a leader in its efforts to collaborate with APPs, and this is an exciting opportunity for APPs to work with ASCO on further expansion of this program,” Ms. Hylton said.

Oncology practices may purchase packages for their employees, or individual APPs may purchase the curricula. A post-assessment is included in all packages to help gauge comprehension. In addition, all courses offer a certificate of participation, which is accepted toward recertification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, California Board of Registered Nursing, American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Medical Group Management Association.

For more information about the 2015 ACAPP Curricula, visit university.asco.org/acapp. ■