Introducing enhanced navigation and supportive care into the curative treatment of cancer (SCOOP pathway).

Abstract

142 Background: We hypothesized that introducing supportive care management and enhanced electronic aids to nurse navigation in selective curative cases could result in cost savings and enhanced patient experience of the sort demonstrated in patients with advanced disease. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we introduced a clinical pathway in November 2016 called the Supportive Care of Oncology Patients (SCOOP) program. We limited the scope to patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy concurrently at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and diagnosed with potentially curable thoracic, colorectal or head and neck malignancies and seen in our mulitdisciplinary clinics (MDCs). 1. A nurse navigation check list was developed for nurse navigators in the Aerial information system to support standardization of care. The navigator has to opt out of ancillary service consults such as nutrition, behavioral health and social work. The check list includes other mandatory tasks that must be completed at various time points before, during and after the patient’s concurrent treatment. Examples include: Prescribed communication dates with the patient; capturing of scheduled consults; assessing additional/unmet needs before, during and after treatment phase. 2. A mandatory supportive and palliative care service screening during the MDC visit, and, if indicated, urgent or timely consultation. 3. Flags in the inpatient information system that alert in real time the supportive care service, the navigators and the oncologists whenever a patient is seen in the emergency room, admitted or discharged. Results: During the first year nurse navigation compliance increased from 94% to 99%.ED visits declined from 54% to 32% of SCOOP patients , admissions from 34% to 25% and readmissions from 32% to 20% . Opportunity cost savings were $1500.00 per patient. Conclusions: Much like the results observed in advanced disease, the early introduction of enhanced nurse navigation and palliative/supportive care in high acuity patients treated curatively improves the patient experience and reduces societal costs.