Research/Quality/Performance Improvement

Transitions in care require well-managed timing and sequencing of events across specialties.

As people with a history of cancer are living longer and surviving their cancer, today it is estimated that there are 14 million cancer survivors in the United States.

The MPNs myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are associated with a variety of burdensome symptoms (BMC Cancer. 2016;16:167) and reduced survival compared with the general population (PLOS One. 2014;9:e90299).

Patient navigation has been shown to improve patient engagement and participation in clinical trials and reduce barriers to cancer care.

Nursing navigators spend up to 50% of their time identifying cancer patients. Manual identification of cancer patients in an EMR system is time consuming and not standardized.

A positive impact is seen in the timeliness to treatment for cancer patients presented at a thoracic multidisciplinary conference.

The creation of a defined navigation model, clear navigation metrics, and proof of navigation return on investment (ROI) are essential for “continued development and success of oncology navigation programs.

As our cancer program evolves with multidisciplinary care, leadership approved adding 2 specialty multidisciplinary clinics (MDCs), hepatobiliary (GI) and skin and soft tissue (SST) to existing breast, thoracic, and prostate MDCs.

The purpose of this evidence-based project was to increase nurse knowledge and awareness of the consequences of hyperglycemia in cancer patients, thereby increasing their capability to effectively intervene.

Cancer centers have focused on optimizing seamless multidisciplinary care at tumor boards and/or clinics, but little has been published on effective ways to involve supportive services in the management of cancer patients.