Remote nurse triage and standardization of clinical pathway utilization.

Authors

null

Blake Hoegger

Texas Oncology PA, Austin, TX

Blake Hoegger, Cassidy Rose Davis, Calliope Constance Bodenhorn Payne, Lance Ortega, Debra A. Patt

Organizations

Texas Oncology PA, Austin, TX, Texas Oncology, Dallas, TX, Texas Oncology PA, Dallas, TX, Texas Oncology, Austin, TX

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: In March of 2022, Texas Oncology (community oncology practice) initiated a state-wide rollout for Remote Nurse Triage. This program implemented and standardized the utilization of Clinical Pathways within the Navigating Care system with a goal to decrease time to patient first call back, increase first touch resolution for patient-initiated contact, and increase patient satisfaction related to patient-initiated communication resolution. Methods: To determine an appropriate plan of action, a needs assessment was conducted to evaluate current pathway utilization, call volumes and patient satisfaction. Based on the findings of this assessment, triage nurses were trained to resolve incidents using standardized care pathways and standing orders within the Navigating Care System. This implementation was monitored on a weekly basis with metrics from Navigating Care and the Relatient dashboard and compared to the 12-month baseline data for 2 beta sites. Results: In the 12-month pilot, standardized pathway utilization increased from 1% pre-pilot to 78% post-pilot for clinical symptom management calls. With standardized pathways and better first touch resolution clinical calls decreased 8% overall from 4,302/month to 3,987/month while patient volumes (billable visits) increased 25%. Patient satisfaction scores, in relation to their phone experience and needs resolution, went up to 4.5/5 from 3.9/5. Symptom management resolution times also trended down since beginning the pilot. Conclusions: Standardizing the usage of clinical pathways by virtual triage nurses reduced clinical call volumes despite a positive growth in the number of billable visits at the pilot sites. This increase in pathway utilization also led to decreased time for symptom management resolution. Additionally, these measures resulted in an increased patient satisfaction related to patient-initiated communication.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B

Track

Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Palliative and Supportive Care

Sub Track

Use of Clinical Pathways

Citation

JCO Oncol Pract 19, 2023 (suppl 11; abstr 574)

DOI

10.1200/OP.2023.19.11_suppl.574

Abstract #

574

Poster Bd #

M21

Abstract Disclosures

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