I just learned that the organization of SPM president-elect Sarah Krug, Cancer 101, has gotten what I consider a major acknowledgement. On his blog GeekDoctor.blogspot.com, John Halamka announced last month that his wife Kathy was newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Yesterday his weekly Cool Technology of the Week post was about Cancer 101’s “Cancer Planner” tool:

Hundreds of healthcare IT professionals have offered their support to Kathy as she begins cancer treatment.

Several non-profits have contacted us with educational materials and helpful tools.

One of the most useful is the Cancer Planner from Cancer101.org .    Cancer 101 provides the tools and resources that patients and caregivers need to make sense of the overwhelming information and difficult emotions that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

Thanks to CEO Sarah Krug and her staff for sending it.

Importantly, his praise is based on the patient’s evaluation of the tool’s usefulness:

Kathy describes this Planner as the perfect addition to her Personal Health Record and the hospital’s Electronic Health Record since it enables her to document her thoughts and experiences in a way that complements the objective healthcare data gathered during the care process.

And:

As I said in last week’s Cancer Journey post, the initial diagnostic phase can be anxiety provoking and confusing.

The Planner brings order to the process.   That’s cool.

What strikes me is that this tool was picked from the many that were offered to this very-high-profile health IT family.

Sarah comes to e-patient from experience – she lost both parents to cancer early in life. We’re glad to have her emerging in SPM leadership.