Meeting patient needs with a risk-stratified colorectal cancer follow-up

Abstract

Managing the increasing numbers of colorectal cancer survivors with complex needs while minimizing recurrence or secondary cancer is bringing fresh challenges to healthcare providers. A baseline study completed in five counties in England with eight acute care organizations highlighted the importance of developing a risk-stratified follow-up pathway that goes beyond the traditional follow-up. In the absence of guidelines, this follow-up pathway was developed in consultation with the Network Site Specific Group consisting of specialist care clinicians from all the acute care providers. This comprehensive follow-up pathway encourages healthcare providers and clinicians to address complex patient needs by a process of shared decision making and holistic needs assessment (HNA), providing optimum surveillance testing combined with various coping and self-management strategies