Automating a program for the evidence-based reimbursement of oncology drugs across a complex network: Benefits and challenges.

Abstract

39 Background: Ontario hospitals are reimbursed for IV chemotherapy through Cancer Care Ontario’s (CCO) New Drug Funding Program (NDFP). By 2009, 54 indications (annual budget $195MM) were managed through largely paper based processes. A new web based system (eClaims) was developed focusing on clinic workflow and integration to chemotherapy ordering systems. Interfaces were developed for CCO’s OPIS and commercial systems (HL7v3). eClaims provides users with clinical best practice, pre-approval, immediate adjudication and simple means of tracking outstanding claims. The benefits and challenges are described. Methods: Evaluation used several strategies: debriefs after each deployment; post-go live user surveys and lessons learned workshops. Results: eClaims was deployed in 80 hospitals over two years. At most sites (50/80) treatment data flows from CPOE systems to eClaims in near real time. Over 50% of claims are machine adjudicated. Newly approved indications can be posted within hours. The main learnings during the deployment process were the need to understand and adjust for hospital specific factors and the unique business relationships among clusters of hospitals. Survey responses were received at a 19% response rate. The later deployment groups reported greater satisfaction than earlier adopters with more positive responses in all categories. Workshop key theme was the need to match complex clinical workflows with design/build processes. Secondly, evaluation of historical data before migration is necessary. Conclusions: Introducing an application into complex, varied clinical workflows is difficult. The phased approach to deployment and evaluation worked, allowing for increasingly smooth go lives. Future work revolves around balancing user needs through eClaims modifications vs simplifying clinical processes to make the tool more usable.