MP34-05 ESTABLISHING AN ONCOLOGY FERTILITY PRESERVATION PROGRAM – AREAS OF IMPACT

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyHealth Services Research: Quality Improvement & Patient Safety II (MP34)1 Sep 2021MP34-05 ESTABLISHING AN ONCOLOGY FERTILITY PRESERVATION PROGRAM – AREAS OF IMPACT Jason Huang, Yael Simons, David Dulce, Amaara Babwah, Candice Schwartz, Neeta Venepalli, Rozina Chowdery, Gail S Prins, and Samuel Ohlander Jason HuangJason Huang More articles by this author , Yael SimonsYael Simons More articles by this author , David DulceDavid Dulce More articles by this author , Amaara BabwahAmaara Babwah More articles by this author , Candice SchwartzCandice Schwartz More articles by this author , Neeta VenepalliNeeta Venepalli More articles by this author , Rozina ChowderyRozina Chowdery More articles by this author , Gail S PrinsGail S Prins More articles by this author , and Samuel OhlanderSamuel Ohlander More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002043.05AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Fertility preservation (FP) services are often underutilized in oncologic care despite the availability of services and expanding advocacy. Ten states, including Illinois, have laws requiring insurance coverage of FP costs for cancer patients. We conducted a quality improvement (QI) initiative to both establish our male FP program among cancer patients and assess the provider-level barriers to doing so, as a collaborative effort to improve patient care. METHODS: Barriers to discussion and utilization of FP services were assessed by surveying oncology providers and holding discussions with social workers and patient care coordinators; the results guided our QI interventions. We identified males diagnosed and treated for cancer at our institution, an urban academic tertiary referral center, between January 2019 and December of 2019 and after a series of QI interventions from September 14, 2020 through February 12, 2021. State mandated FP coverage went into effect January 1, 2020. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts to determine rates of discussion and utilization of FP services. RESULTS: Fourteen of 14 providers surveyed responded. The most common barriers to discussion of FP were knowledge deficits among providers (25% of respondents) and difficulty with documentation (25%); other reasons were assumptions about the patient (22%), perceptions regarding FP (14%), and comfort discussing FP (14%). Our interventions thus included 2 lectures to oncologists and oncology fellows, with an emphasis on guidelines and awareness of our institution’s FP services, and provision of quick reference guides. During our intervention period, our institution transitioned to a new electronic medical record system (EMR) that included a FP referral communication for all new chemotherapy orders. Prior to QI interventions, a total of 205 patients with newly diagnosed and treated cancer were reviewed. 29 (14.1%) of these patients had documented FP counseling and 11 proceeded with cryopreservation. After initiation of our QI interventions, we identified 35 patients meeting inclusion criteria over a 21-week period, and 14 (22.9%) were offered FP services. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recognition of the importance of FP and increasing availability of FP services, significant barriers to access remain, including at the provider level. However, by supplying providers with educational material, patient care can be meaningfully improved. Educating providers outside of fertility specialists is crucial to establishing a FP program for cancer patients. Additional and continued efforts must be applied to assure further improvement in counseling rates and utilization of FP services. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e618-e618 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Jason Huang More articles by this author Yael Simons More articles by this author David Dulce More articles by this author Amaara Babwah More articles by this author Candice Schwartz More articles by this author Neeta Venepalli More articles by this author Rozina Chowdery More articles by this author Gail S Prins More articles by this author Samuel Ohlander More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...