Incorporating systematic financial screening into the electronic health record.

Authors

null

Melissa Parsons Beauchemin

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY

Melissa Parsons Beauchemin, Elena B. Elkin, Jason Dennis Wright, Rita Kukafka, Dawn L. Hershman, Justine Kahn

Organizations

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Institutes of Healt, U.S. National Institutes of Health

Background: Routine screening for financial hardship may identify patients at risk of financial crisis (bankruptcy or inability to afford food or medication). Identifying financial hardship risk is a critical step toward mitigating financial toxicity, associated with earlier mortality and poorer quality of life. We are studying the implementation of systematic financial hardship screening using the electronic health record (EHR) in a large, urban, outpatient cancer center. Methods: Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, we met with key stakeholders, including providers, medical assistants (MA’s), administrative staff, and patient advocates to develop a process to systematically screen all cancer patients for financial hardship risk using 2 items (Q1 and Q3) from the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST). We initiated the process in the breast oncology clinic and partnered with EPIC to integrate the items in the EHR and patient portal. In March 2021, we implemented systematic screening, with automatic prompts to reassess monthly. Results: The workflow includes two mechanisms for patients to complete the 2 items: through the online patient portal during appointment check-in; or through a paper form in English or Spanish, distributed to patients during check-in. An EHR flag was created to notify staff if the patient is due to complete the questions during check-in. During vital signs assessment, the MA collects the form and enters the responses into the EHR. Two important factors were identified to improve the implementation: 1) Patient support to facilitate EHR portal use to reduce clinic workflow congestion; and 2) printed resources for patients who express financial concern. Ongoing discussions reveal that certain clinic days are busier, during which staff find it difficult to review EHR flag, provide and collect paper forms. To date, of 1,358 patients seen in the breast oncology clinic, 526 (39%) have responded to the question, “I know that I have enough money in savings, retirement, or assets to cover the costs of my treatment,” and of those, 278 (53%) responded “not at all” or “a little bit.” Of the 532 patients (39%) who responded to the question, “I worry about the financial problems I will have in the future as a result of my illness or treatment,” 215 (40%) responded “quite a bit” or “very much.”Conclusions: Preliminary analysis highlights the complexities of initiating systematic financial screening in oncology clinics. However, interim results suggest financial hardship is prevalent. Next steps include: expanding to pediatric and gynecologic oncology; building a dashboard to inform financial referrals; comparison of the 2-item screener to the COST survey in a subset of patients; qualitative interviews and focus groups with patients and staff to improve current procedures and optimize the use of dashboards and alerts to focus interventions and referrals on patients most in need.

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

2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Patient Experience; Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science; Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care

Track

Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Patient Experience,Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science,Cost, Value, and Policy,Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities

Sub Track

Integrating Patient Experience Assessment and Patient Reported Outcomes Into Practice

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 28; abstr 184)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.39.28_suppl.184

Abstract #

184

Poster Bd #

B7

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

Abstract

2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Implementing a financial toxicity screening program.

First Author: Emeline Mariam Aviki

Abstract

2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Optimizing the implementation of systematic financial screening.

First Author: Melissa Parsons Beauchemin

Abstract

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Screened social risk factors & screening acceptability among oncology patients in Philadelphia.

First Author: Jessica Davis

First Author: Marcela Algave