Characteristics of patients referred to embedded rapid access supportive care clinic.

Abstract

141 Background: ASCO recommends Palliative care and Oncology integration to improve quality care outcomes. There is limited data on the patient (pt) characteristics (PC) for those who access integrated care. Our center created a pilot rapid access supportive care clinic (RASCC) to facilitate same-day consultation. The aim of this study was to determine the PC of pts referred (R) and not referred (NR) to RASCC. We also examined the PC of those who referred early[ER] (within 12 weeks of diagnosis or registration) vs those who have referred late [LR]. Methods: We reviewed pt medical records of all pts R and NR during the pilot period (Aug 01, 2012 to June 30, 2013). To be eligible all pts had advanced Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer with oncologist estimated overall survival (OS) of ≤ 6 months. Results: Of a total of 419 eligible pts seen at the thoracic oncology clinic, 157 (37%) pts were referred to RASCC. R group had a higher symptom distress scores, SDS (Table 1), weight loss, worse PS and OS compared to NR. There was no difference in PC between ER and LR except in the ESAS symptoms and SDS scores were higher in ER than LR, 40(29.5,52) vs 31.5(22.25,40.125), P < .001. Conclusions: R pts had higher symptom burden and worse OS. Similarly ER had a higher SDS than LR suggesting referrals to RASCC were primarily based on symptom burden. [Table: see text]