Baseline evaluation of the patient-centered oncology care model.

Abstract

50 Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model of care is being widely adopted as a way to provide accessible, proactive, coordinated care and self-care through primary care practices. During active treatment for cancer, the oncology practice is often the primary setting supporting the patient and coordinating cancer treatment. For this project, we are implementing a Patient-centered Oncology Care model in five oncology practices and evaluating the impact on cost, quality, and patient experiences. Methods: To determine the structures and processes present in the practices at baseline, we conducted a self-assessment on the standards, followed with an on-site “audit” for compliance with the standards. To get a sense for organizational culture and motivation to change, we conducted site visits which included interviews with providers, staff and patients and observation of clinical encounters and workflow. Results: Among the highest priority structures and processes, the most common were telephone triage, symptom management, advance care planning, and the use of evidence-based guidelines. The least common were patient/family orientation, availability of same day appointments, discussion and documentation of goals of therapy, symptom assessment, and tracking of appointments. All of the practices had made patient-centered care a priority and staff were motivated to change. There was variation in the way providers and the care team used health information technology during clinical workflow. There was also variation in which staff coordinated care for patients and whether or not financial counseling was offered. All of the practices stated that they needed to work on implementing survivorship care planning, shared decision-making, and patient engagement in quality improvement and practice transformation Conclusions: The pilot oncology practices have many structures and processes in common. However, there is little standardization within practices in the way these processes are established and documented. Practices vary in how they are implementing patient-centered care processes. However, with motivation to change, staff and providers are actively engaged in the transformation process.