scholarly journals Implementing a Multidisciplinary Approach for Older Adults with Cancer: Geriatric Oncology in Practice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Presley ◽  
Jessica Krok-Schoen ◽  
Sarah Wall ◽  
Anne Noonan ◽  
Desiree Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Evidence-based practice in geriatric oncology is growing, and national initiatives have focused on expanding cancer care and research to improve health outcomes for older adults. However, there are still gaps between knowledge and practice for older adults with cancer.Methods: Here we provide a detailed methodology of geriatric oncology care delivery within a single institution. The Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) clinic is a multidisciplinary approach for implementing geriatric-driven health care for older adults with cancer. The CARE clinic was developed as a direct response to recommendations targeting key multifactorial geriatric health conditions (e.g. falls, nutritional deficits, sensory loss, cognitive impairment, frailty, multiple chronic conditions, and functional status). The multidisciplinary team assesses and delivers a comprehensive set of recommendations, all in one clinic visit, to minimize burden on the patient and the caregiver. The CARE clinic consultative model is a novel approach integrating cancer subspecialties with geriatric oncology healthcare delivery.Conclusions: Older adults with cancer have unique needs that are independent of routine oncology care. The CARE clinic model provides specific assessments and interventions to improve health outcomes among older adults with cancer.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Presley ◽  
Jessica Krok-Schoen ◽  
Sarah Wall ◽  
Anne Noonan ◽  
Desiree Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Evidence-based practice in geriatric oncology is growing, and national initiatives have focused on expanding cancer care and research to improve health outcomes of older adults. However, there are still gaps between knowledge and practice for older adults with cancer.Methods: Here we provide a detailed methodology of geriatric oncology care delivery within a single institution. The Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) clinic is a multidisciplinary approach for implementing geriatric-driven health care for older adults with cancer. The CARE clinic was developed as a direct response to recommendations targeting key multifactorial geriatric health conditions (e.g. falls, nutritional deficits, sensory loss, cognitive impairment, frailty, multiple chronic conditions, and functional status). The multidisciplinary team assesses and delivers a comprehensive set of recommendations, all in one clinic visit, to minimize burden on the patient and the caregiver. The CARE clinic consultative model is a novel approach integrating cancer subspecialties with geriatric oncology healthcare delivery.Conclusions: Older adults with cancer have a unique needs that independent of routine oncology care. The CARE clinic model provides specific assessments and interventions to improve outcomes among older adults with cancer.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Presley ◽  
Jessica Krok-Schoen ◽  
Sarah Wall ◽  
Anne Noonan ◽  
Desiree Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Evidence-based practice in geriatric oncology is growing, and national initiatives have focused on expanding cancer care and research to improve health outcomes of older adults. However, there are still gaps between knowledge and practice for older adults with cancer. Methods: The Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) clinic is a multidisciplinary approach for implementing geriatric-driven health care for older adults with cancer. The CARE clinic was developed as a direct response to recommendations targeting key multifactorial geriatric health conditions (e.g. falls, nutritional deficits, sensory loss, cognitive impairment, frailty, multiple chronic conditions, and functional status). We review the influence of these factors across the cancer care trajectory, including at screening, diagnosis, and treatment and discuss ways in which these conditions may be targeted to improve cancer care in older adults. Results: The CARE clinic was implemented at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) and targets modifiable risk factors affecting outcomes in older adults with cancer: weight loss, polypharmacy, physical impairments, social support, and mood symptoms. The multidisciplinary team at the CARE clinic discusses and delivers a comprehensive set of recommendations, all in one clinic visit, to minimize burden on the patient and the caregiver. The CARE clinic is part of a set of initiatives that feature education of future leaders in geriatric oncology, survivorship care for an aging population, and outcomes research. Conclusions: Older adults with cancer have a unique set of needs that need to be taken into account throughout their cancer care. The CARE clinic model is an important example of an approach that may combat these difficulties and lead to better outcomes among older adults with cancer.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Presley ◽  
Jessica Krok-Schoen ◽  
Sarah Wall ◽  
Anne Noonan ◽  
Desiree Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Evidence-based practice in geriatric oncology is growing, and national initiatives have focused on expanding cancer care and research to improve health outcomes of older adults. However, there are still gaps between knowledge and practice for older adults with cancer. Methods: The Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) clinic is a multidisciplinary approach for implementing geriatric-driven health care for older adults with cancer. The CARE clinic was developed as a direct response to recommendations targeting key multifactorial geriatric health conditions (e.g. falls, nutritional deficits, sensory loss, cognitive impairment, frailty, multiple chronic conditions, and functional status). We review the influence of these factors across the cancer care trajectory, including at screening, diagnosis, and treatment and discuss ways in which these conditions may be targeted to improve cancer care in older adults. Results: The CARE clinic was implemented at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) and targets modifiable risk factors affecting outcomes in older adults with cancer: weight loss, polypharmacy, physical impairments, social support, and mood symptoms. The multidisciplinary team at the CARE clinic discusses and delivers a comprehensive set of recommendations, all in one clinic visit, to minimize burden on the patient and the caregiver. The CARE clinic is part of a set of initiatives that feature education of future leaders in geriatric oncology, survivorship care for an aging population, and outcomes research. Conclusions: Older adults with cancer have a unique set of needs that need to be taken into account throughout their cancer care. The CARE clinic model is an important example of an approach that may combat these difficulties and lead to better outcomes among older adults with cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenerius A. Aminawung ◽  
Tyler D. Harvey ◽  
Jerry Smart ◽  
Joseph Calderon ◽  
Anna Steiner ◽  
...  

Over half a million individuals return from United States prisons and millions more from jails every year, many of whom with complex health and social needs. Community health workers (CHWs) perform diverse roles to improve health outcomes in disadvantaged communities, but no studies have assessed their role as integrated members of a primary care team serving individuals returning from incarceration. Using data from participants who received primary care through the Transitions Clinic Network, a model of care that integrates CHWs with a lived experienced of incarceration into primary care teams, we characterized how CHWs address participant health and social needs during interactions outside of clinic visits for 6 months after participants established primary care. Among the 751 participants, 79% had one or more CHW interactions outside of the clinic documented. Participants with more comorbid conditions, longer stays during their most recent incarceration, and released with a prescription had more interactions with CHWs compared to those with fewer comorbidities, shorter stays, and no prescription at release. Median number of interactions was 4 (interquartile range, IQR 2–8) and 56% were in person. The most common issues addressed (34%) were social determinants of health, with the most common being housing (35%). CHWs working in interdisciplinary primary care teams caring for people with histories of incarceration perform a variety of functions for clients outside of scheduled primary care visits. To improve health outcomes among disadvantaged populations, CHWs should be able to work across multiple systems, with supervision and support for CHW activities both in the primary care clinic and within the community.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Daniolou ◽  
Andreas Rapp ◽  
Celina Haase ◽  
Alfred Ruppert ◽  
Marlene Wittwer ◽  
...  

The widespread adoption of digital health technologies such as smartphone-based mobile applications, wearable activity trackers and Internet of Things systems has rapidly enabled new opportunities for predictive health monitoring. Leveraging digital health tools to track parameters relevant to human health is particularly important for the older segments of the population as old age is associated with multimorbidity and higher care needs. In order to assess the potential of these digital health technologies to improve health outcomes, it is paramount to investigate which digitally measurable parameters can effectively improve health outcomes among the elderly population. Currently, there is a lack of systematic evidence on this topic due to the inherent heterogeneity of the digital health domain and the lack of clinical validation of both novel prototypes and marketed devices. For this reason, the aim of the current study is to synthesize and systematically analyse which digitally measurable data may be effectively collected through digital health devices to improve health outcomes for older people. Using a modified PICO process and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework, we provide the results of a systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis of digitally measurable predictors of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality among older adults aged 65 or older. These findings can inform both technology developers and clinicians involved in the design, development and clinical implementation of digital health technologies for elderly citizens.


Gerontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Midão ◽  
Anna Giardini ◽  
Enrica Menditto ◽  
Przemyslaw Kardas ◽  
Elísio Costa

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 615-616
Author(s):  
Ayo Bankole

Abstract Illness perceptions (IP) has been associated with self-management and health outcomes in individuals with chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes; however, there is less research on the relationship between IP and health outcomes in individuals with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). Older adults with MCC are more likely to experience poor outcomes such as hospitalizations and poor self-rated health yet, there is less understanding of the processes associated with these outcomes. The purpose of this study was to (1) explore the relationship between IP and self-rated health among older adults with MCC (2) explore the relationship between IP and the number of hospitalization within the past year among older adults with MCC. Understanding these relationships may be instrumental to designing targeted interventions to improve health outcomes for this population. 116 participants (ages 65-90) completed the illness perception of multimorbidity scale, modified general health subscale of the SF-36 questionnaire, and self-reported number of hospitalizations within the past year. Ordinal logistic regression was used for analysis. Older adults who reported negative IP were likely to report worse self-rated health and this relationship remained significant after controlling for age and number of chronic conditions {-0.032 (95% CI (-0.050 to 0.014) p< 0.05}. There was no significant relationship between IP and the number of hospitalization within the past year. The study results study suggest that IP is associated with self-rated health in older adults with MCC. IP may be useful to design targeted interventions to improve self-rated health in this population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 298-299
Author(s):  
Jessica Krok-Schoen

Abstract Despite the majority of cancer survivors being older adults, the connection between oncology, geriatrics, and gerontology remains unexplored. Our symposium will provide insights across the cancer continuum from prevention through survivorship as well as a comprehensive view of the connection between gerontological and geriatric factors in oncology. Specifically, we will discuss the biopsychosocial and behavioral factors among older adults with cancer, their effect on health outcomes, and how researchers and clinicians can intervene to improve health outcomes. The first abstract by Dr. Cadet found that despite a lack of knowledge of options and harms of cancer screening among older adults with low health literacy, there was a desire to understand more to better their health. The second abstract by Dr. Bhattacharyya found that older patients with cancer experience high levels of social isolation, loneliness, and fear that are heightened by individual and technology-based barriers to telehealth. The third abstract by Dr. Carroll found that breast cancer survivors with good sleep quality had less accelerated biological aging than those with sleep problems. The fourth abstract by Dr. Krok-Schoen utilized one of the largest datasets of older women, the Women’s Health Initiative, and found multiple gerontological and geriatric factors associated with physical activity among older female cancer survivors. Closing this symposium is Dr. Guida, a Program Director at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), who will profile the current research efforts, programmatic priorities, and current funding in aging and cancer. These multidisciplinary researchers and clinicians will provide a comprehensive symposium regarding geriatric oncology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 44-44
Author(s):  
Sheryl Riley ◽  
Samantha Manns

44 Background: Comprehensive oncology care management is commonly built on expert clinical support and coordinated services, but lacks a community focus during critical phases of the cancer journey. However, a community-embedded approach extends past practice walls by incorporating local resources and identifying barriers to care in-between office visits. The cycle of care management adheres to the following objectives: Improve health outcomes; Engage the patient, their family and healthcare team; Advance payor efficiency and cost savings; Support the treatment plan in the community. Methods: Stratification Technology Platform & Levels of Care: A risk-based process is implemented through proprietary stratification software, which combines all data points of the healthcare system. A three-step risk acuity score is calculated for each patient based on claims data, diagnoses and disabilities to assure care is tailored to meet individual needs. Patients are then designated to care programs in accordance to their various risk levels. This allows for personalized care plans and staff workflows. Care Teams: Teams of a care coordinator, registered nurse and social worker provide consistent healthcare navigation, monitor patients’ treatment adherence and improve health outcomes. They act as a safety net for patients and their families at all times. Results: 31% decrease in ER visits; 51% decrease in hospital admissions; Hospice conversion at 8x national average; Improved side effects management; ROI of 3:1. Conclusions: Through community-embedded oncology care management, patients not only receive the proper level of care, but also show various improved health outcomes. Providers and patients see decreased emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays and improved quality of life, while payers experience tremendous cost savings due to smarter spending and utilization management. Practices continue to recognize community-embedded care management as a transformative standard of treatment that is central to positive health outcomes. However, there is always more to learn and improve upon, so constant evaluations of quality metrics are essential to provide the very best to patients, providors and payers.


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