Developing and implementing EMR functionality to improve oral chemotherapy outcomes.

Authors

null

Thomas A. Hensing

NorthShore Univ Health Syst/Univ of Chicago, Evanston, IL

Thomas A. Hensing, Bruce Brockstein, George W. Carro, Ashton Marie Hullett, Brad Hughes, Wayne Spath, Sharon Huginnie

Organizations

NorthShore Univ Health Syst/Univ of Chicago, Evanston, IL, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, Kellogg Cancer Care Ctr, Niles, IL, Kellogg Cancer Care Ctr, Lake Bluff, IL

Research Funding

No funding sources reported

Background: Approval of new oral anticancer agents (OAA) continues to rise, accounting for 75% of new oncology drugs approved so far in 2015. OAA prescriptions generated at our institution demonstrate similar growth, as the prescription volume for OAA is approximately 200% greater than it was 8 years ago. Challenges of OAA, including safe prescribing, monitoring toxicities, and assessing adherence, continue to be an obstacle to providing quality care. In recognition of these challenges, our institution employed the electronic medical record (EMR) to develop tools to enhance safe prescribing, monitoring, and follow up for patients receiving OAA. Methods: Comprehensive, regimen-specific, OAA protocols were built in the EMR using the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative criteria as a guide. Protocols included OAA prescriptions, laboratory tests, monitoring communications, supportive care medications, plan for follow up, and a monitoring order. The monitoring order, dated 7 to 10 days after the start of each cycle, was utilized to identify patients for follow up, and as a documentation tool. During follow up calls, pharmacists provided education, addressed adherence and toxicities, and communicated findings to team members. The initial analysis focused on six of the most commonly prescribed OAA agents at our institution. Results: Cycle 1 follow up calls were placed for 115 new start OAA patients. Over half of the patients (56.5%) required an intervention (ex: symptom management, alerting the medical team, counseling). Eleven patients had barriers to adherence (ex: confusion, incorrect technique, cost, obtaining insurance coverage, and toxicity). Overall, 98% of patients verbalized appropriate adherence. There were 191 subsequent follow up efforts, after the cycle 1 follow up call, which resulted in 39 interventions (20%). Conclusions: OAA requires the same intensive monitoring and follow up as IV chemotherapy, but is more difficult to provide given the nature of administration of these medications. Utilizing the EMR to develop prescribing and monitoring tools can help address these challenges by providing a means for enhanced documentation and follow up.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2016 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Practice of Quality and Cost, Value, and Policy in Quality

Track

Cost, Value, and Policy in Quality,Practice of Quality,Science of Quality

Sub Track

Use of IT to Improve Quality

Citation

J Clin Oncol 34, 2016 (suppl 7S; abstr 159)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2016.34.7_suppl.159

Abstract #

159

Poster Bd #

P6

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

Abstract

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Impact of medically integrated pharmacies on oral anticancer medication prescription abandonment.

First Author: Gury K. Doshi

First Author: Jasmine L Martin

Abstract

2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Health-system specialty pharmacy impact on oral chemotherapy outcomes.

First Author: Tehsinabanu Sheikh