Comparative study of the perceptions of continuity of care of CRC survivors transitioned to primary care.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 96-96
Author(s):  
Jeffrey James Sisler ◽  
Zoann Nugent ◽  
Tara Carpenter-Kellett ◽  
Joel Roger Gingerich

96 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are increasingly being discharged to a primary care provider (PCP) for follow-up care. This study used a pre-post design to evaluate the impact of the Moving Forward After Cancer(MFAC) program at CancerCare Manitoba on patient perceptions of continuity of care. Methods: The MFAC program was introduced in 2010 to support transfer of care to primary care and includes transitional appointments (TAs) and survivorship care plans. The pre-implementation (PRE) group was a random sample of patients on the provincial cancer registry diagnosed in 2008/09 with Stage II / III CRC. The post-implementation (POST) group was recruited in oncology clinics after their TA over four years starting in 2010. Both groups completed the same mailed survey. Respondents were asked to identify the main provider(s) of their follow-up care. Those indicating a PCP completed the Patient Continuity of Care Questionnaire (PCCQ) which assesses continuity upon discharge with scoring between 5 and 25. Quality of life, disease, treatment, and demographic data were collected. Results: There were 246 responses in the PRE group (rate of 68.3%) and 83 (66%) in the POST. The POST group was significantly younger, more urban and further from diagnosis. It included more Stage III and rectal cancer patients who received more treatment. Comparing the subset of both groups (106 vs 65) who described a PCP as a main provider, the POST group demonstrated higher scores on the PCCQ (24.0 v 22.8, p=0.0065) and on two of its subscales. This finding persisted when tested for the impact of differences between the two groups in stage, site, age and treatment. The most common pattern of provider involvement in follow-up was the “FP alone,” which rose from 19% in the PRE group to 54% in the POST (p<0.0001). The proportion of participants who felt “adequately prepared” for their transfer of care was significantly increased (71 vs 91%, p=0.003). Conclusions: A formal information sharing process with CRC patients at time of transition to primary care follow-up improved their evaluation of continuity of care. Significant shifts were seen in the locus of care from oncology to primary care settings consistent with the intent of the MFAC program.

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Urquhart ◽  
Amy Folkes ◽  
Geoffrey Porter ◽  
Cynthia Kendell ◽  
Martha Cox ◽  
...  

Transitioning routine follow-up to primary care could potentially increase guideline adherence by improving access to and continuity of care.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Taggart ◽  
Melvin Chin ◽  
Winston Liauw ◽  
Alex Dolezal ◽  
John Plahn ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction A shared model of care between cancer services and primary health care is safe and acceptable and can address the increasing demands on cancer services for long term follow-up. This paper describes the challenges developing an interactive shared care plan for colorectal cancer follow-up care that supports collaboration between the care team and patient. Methods A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify web-based care plans for follow-up cancer care that would inform the implementation of a system to share an individualised care plan. We conducted individual consultations with 25 key informants/stakeholders to understand the requirements and challenges of establishing the web-based care plan and to identify the technical options to share the care plan. This was followed by a structured group consultation with 13 key stakeholders to obtain agreement on the model of care and the technical solution to share the care plan. Results We identified five web-based shared care plans for cancer follow-up care. These systems supported the creation and/or access to view or share the care plan via internet log-in, email or hard copy. None of the SCP had interactive functionalities to support collaboration and none of the included papers reported formalised models of shared care between cancer services and primary care. The challenges identified included the security, privacy and sharing of patient information between public health services and primary health care and poor integration of clinical information systems. A primary care practitioners’ care planning system was selected for the pilot as it addressed the challenge of sharing clinical information between the public health system and external clinicians, partially addressed integration (integrated with the primary care clinical information systems but did not integrate with the cancer centre systems), supported collaboration between the care team and patient and was relatively inexpensive. Conclusion Primary care shared care planning systems seem a suitable option for sharing clinical information between a cancer service and primary care practitioners. We plan to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this interactive shared care plan to support shared cancer follow-up care.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
Katherine Ramsey Gilmore ◽  
David K Choi ◽  
Patricia Chapman ◽  
Paula A. Lewis-Patterson ◽  
Guadalupe R. Palos ◽  
...  

56 Background: The Commission on Cancer’s recent mandate stated that accredited programs issue treatment summaries (TSs) with survivorship follow-up care plans (SCPs). ASCO’s model of survivorship care also supports the use of these documents. One of the primary purposes of the documents is to enhance coordination and communication between the oncology team and primary care providers. Here we describe the experience of a survivorship program in using electronic health records (EHR) to develop TSs and SCPs. Methods: An interdisciplinary team at an academic cancer center was appointed to develop clinical tools to facilitate the creation and dissemination of TSs and SCPs. Enhancements were made to an institutional off-the-shelf EHR system that automatically populated available treatment information to the TS. This system used SmartLinks to pull data from the primary source of entry (e.g. surgical history, chemotherapy administered, and cancer stage). Clinicians edited and added pertinent information not automatically generated using one of the 19 disease-specific templates that provided lists of common treatments for various cancers. Electronic routing functions existed to share TSs with external providers through the medical records department. Results: From March-Sept, 2016, 766 SCP were completed by 50 providers in 14 clinics. Reports were created in the EHR to track SCPs and TS metrics. Data was reported from the TS on both a patient level and aggregate level by provider and clinic. Patient level data allowed providers to track incomplete TSs and edit them directly from the report. Of the TSs completed, 528 (69%) have been shared with patients and 261 (34%) have been shared with their community-based providers. Conclusions: EHRs provide a mechanism to successfully create and share TSs and SCPs among team members and primary care providers. They promote patient-provider education and communication about follow-up care. Research is needed to determine how they enhance coordination and ultimately outcomes for long-term survivors.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Taggart ◽  
Melvin Chin ◽  
Winston Liauw ◽  
John Lewis ◽  
Alex Dolezal ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction A shared model of care between cancer services and primary health care is safe and acceptable and can address the increasing demands on cancer services for long term follow-up. This paper describes the challenges developing an interactive shared care plan for colorectal cancer follow-up care. Methods A systematic literature review identified the use, functionality, and impact of web-based shared care plans to support cancer follow-up. Workshops with key stakeholders and consultations with clinicians, consumers and information service providers were conducted to agree on a model of care and technology options to interactively share a care plan. Results Seventeen papers reported five web-based shared care plan systems for cancer follow-up. These systems supported the creation and/or access to view or share the care plans using email or by downloading and printing a copy. The challenges we found included issues with the security, privacy and sharing of patient information between public health services and primary health care and poor integration of clinical information systems. We selected a primary care practitioners’ care planning system as it was interactive, integrated with primary care practitioner’ clinical information systems, was relatively inexpensive and addressed the sharing of clinical information with external clinicians to the public health system. Conclusion Primary care shared care planning systems seem a suitable option for sharing clinical information between a cancer service and primary care practitioners. We plan to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this interactive shared care plan to support shared cancer follow-up care.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 102-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Salner ◽  
Deborah Walker ◽  
Amanda Seltzer ◽  
SarahLena Panzer ◽  
Carrie Stricker ◽  
...  

102 Background: After a diagnosis of breast cancer, it can be difficult for patients to understand the role their primary care physician (PCP) should play in their follow up care. Methods: 65 women (mean age 60 years, SD = 10) with breast cancer (stage 0-III) were seen by a nurse practitioner for a 60-90 minute consultative survivorship visit and received a treatment summary and personalized survivorship care plan (SCP) utilizing Carevive Care Planning Systems software. The Carevive system incorporates patient-reported and clinical data to create tailored care plans with personalized recommendations for follow up care and supportive referrals, including direction to follow up with primary care for specific care and health maintenance activities. Approximately 6 weeks following their survivorship care visit, patients completed a survey assessing their use of and satisfaction with the SCP. Patients were advised that the SCP would be mailed to their referring oncologist and primary care physician. Results: Out of 65 sent, 35 surveys have been completed to date. Survivors were diagnosed approximately 10 months prior, and all were within 6 months following completion of treatment. All patients (100%) reported that they read, or planned to read, their survivorship care plan packet carefully. While all care plans included a recommendation to follow up with their PCP, only (71%) of survivors remembered receiving this recommendation. Of those who did, most (74%) had either seen or scheduled an appointment with their PCP. Patients who reported higher anxiety at the time of the survivorship visit were more likely to report that the follow up care plan helped them take action about seeing their PCP (p = .03). Conclusions: Coordination between primary and oncology care providers has previously been shown to improve the quality of care for cancer survivors. SCPs that emphasize the importance of and activities to be undertaken in primary care may help to improve this coordination. Continuation of this research will help to better understand how to integrate the primary care physician into cancer follow up care. Updated data will be shared at time of presentation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
Sam Gaster

76 Background: The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM; 2005) seminal report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, recommended survivorship care plans (SCPs) as a common sense approach to improve the care of cancer survivors. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO; Mayer et al., 2014) reiterated the importance of these plans and provided strategic guidance for their implementation. The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer requires SCP delivery from accredited cancer programs as of 2015. Despite the push from these organizations, SCPs remain understudied (Mayer, Birken, Check, & Chen, 2014). The impact of SCPs on patient outcomes is poorly understood. Additionally, there is limited data on patients’ preferences for SCPs. This evaluation describes the use and assessment of SCPs at six regional cancer centers in the Midwest. Methods: Feedback was collected from 30 cancer survivors after receipt of a SCP. Responses were collected with 22-item questionnaire. Outcomes included survivors’ satisfaction with the clarity and detail of SCPs, likelihood to use SCPs in the future, intention to share SCPs with other health care providers, and perceived knowledge about treatment and follow-up care. Results: Over 75% (n = 23) of survivors agreed that SCPs were easy to understand. Ninety-three percent (n = 28) of survivors indicated that SCPs contained the right amount of information. Fifty-three percent (n = 16) of survivors are very likely to use their SCP in the future, whereas 47% (n = 14) are somewhat likely to use their SCP in the future. The majority (77%; n = 23) of survivors intend to share their SCP with another health care provider. Ninety-seven percent (n = 29) of survivors felt more knowledge about their treatment and follow-up car as a result of receiving a SCP. Conclusions: This evaluation highlights the many benefits of SCPs for cancer survivors. Results suggest that SCPs educate survivors about their treatment and follow-up care. Additionally, results indicate that many survivors intend to share SCPs, perhaps allowing for better coordination between oncology and primary care. Further research is warranted on the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors and receipt of routine health care after delivery of SCPs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 50-50
Author(s):  
Tara Carpenter-Kellett ◽  
Jeffrey James Sisler

50 Background: Patient experience and local and international clinical research have focused attention on transitions in cancer care from treatment to follow-up. Deficiencies in the quality of survivorship care, including necessary testing, have been demonstrated. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has funded projects designed to enhance the implementation of survivorship care plans (SCPs) and to improve cancer system-primary care coordination. CancerCare Manitoba, a provincial agency, is a leader in this work. Methods: The Moving Forward After Cancer initiative combines the generation of standardized written SCPs from the EMR with enhanced patient assessment at the end of curative systemic / radiation therapy. A transition appointment (TA) is provided by the patient’s usual oncology providers and includes screening for distress, appropriate referrals, and provision of a personalized treatment summary and SCP to the patient, with copies to the primary care physician and surgeon. The TA often marks the transfer of medical responsibility to the primary care provider (PCP). Results: Transition appointments have been implemented for colorectal (2012), breast (2014), and lymphoma and gynecologic cancer patients (2015). A total of 364 TAs were done in Manitoba in 2014, of which 140 were with colorectal (stage II and III) and 224 with breast (stage I – III) patients, about 59% and 35% respectively of eligible patients. This is an increase of 385% from the 75 TAs done in 2013. Other patient outcomes being collected include perceptions of continuity of care, confidence in survivorship information, evaluation of the care plan documents and also PCP and oncology team perceptions. In order to support practice change, a workflow solution led by a designated team that is adaptable by all sites across the province has been developed. Conclusions: The provision of TAs and SCPs is being well adopted in Manitoba. We expect that this intervention willimprove the experience of both patients and health care providers and the quality of care at the time of transition to survivorship. Implementation is underway with other disease site groups with the goal of all patients receiving a TA as they transition into survivorship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e000839
Author(s):  
Heather Cassie ◽  
Vinay Mistry ◽  
Laura Beaton ◽  
Irene Black ◽  
Janet E Clarkson ◽  
...  

ObjectivesEnsuring that healthcare is patient-centred, safe and harm free is the cornerstone of the NHS. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is a national initiative to support the provision of safe, high-quality care. SPSP promotes a coordinated approach to quality improvement (QI) in primary care by providing evidence-based methods, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. These methods are relatively untested within dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact to inform the development and implementation of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in primary care dentistry.DesignA multimethod study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Kirkpatrick model. Quantitative data were collected using baseline and follow-up questionnaires, designed to explore beliefs and behaviours towards improving quality in practice. Qualitative data were gathered using interviews with dental team members and practice-based case studies.ResultsOne hundred and eleven dental team members completed the baseline questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 79 team members. Twelve practices, including two case studies, participated in evaluation interviews. Findings identified positive beliefs and increased knowledge and skills towards QI, as well as increased confidence about using QI methodologies in practice. Barriers included time, poor patient and team engagement, communication and leadership. Facilitators included team working, clear roles, strong leadership, training, peer support and visible benefits. Participants’ knowledge and skills were identified as an area for improvement.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate increased knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to QI methodology and highlight areas for improvement. This is an example of partnership working between the Scottish Government and NHSScotland towards a shared ambition to provide safe care to every patient. More work is required to evaluate the sustainability and transferability of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in dentistry and wider primary care.


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