Journal of Oncology Practice Publishes Study Demonstrating $3.85 Million in Reduced ED Visits for Cancer Care Providers Using Navigating Cancer Digital Platform
Analysis at two oncology practices concluded that telephone triage using symptom management pathways resulted in a significant reduction in ER events
SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Navigating Cancer announced today the findings of a study published in the Journal of Oncology Practice. The study quantified the savings of two mid-sized community cancer providers that utilize Navigating Cancer's Patient Relationship Management (PRM) solution for standardized telephone triage with integrated symptom management pathways.
The authors of the study analyzed over 10,000 triage incidents documented at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD) in Fort Worth, Texas and Northwest Medical Specialties (NWMS) in Tacoma, Washington to isolate incidents that were related to symptom management. Those incidents were then further reviewed to identify the instances where triage nurse management and intervention prevented ER events.
The study period spanned six months where the authors identified a 6% to 7% reduction in ER events due to symptom management using standardized pathways. They estimated that the annual number of avoided ER events due to triage was 426. That amounts to a savings of $3.85 million for the two practices.
Navigating Cancer's PRM solution is a powerful digital tool not only for triage nurses to assist patients in managing complicated symptoms and preventing ER events, but also in capturing data to enhance insights to improve care and reduce the cost of cancer care. This study concluded that "ER events and associated hospitalizations can be avoided as well as quantified as a result of the deployment of a practice-level integrated platform that incorporates physician-scripted symptom management protocols and telephone triage pathways."
About Navigating Cancer
Navigating Cancer was founded in 2008 as the result of two healthcare and technology veterans coming together to fill a critical gap in oncology care: a better patient experience. Driven by a shared passion to leverage technology in the healthcare space, the co-founders set out to create the first patient-centered platform for oncology. Today, our Navigating Care platform supports over one million patients and thousands of cancer care providers nationwide to lower costs, improve patient satisfaction and drive better outcomes. https://www.navigatingcancer.com/
About the Study
Title: Reducing Cancer Costs Through Symptom Management and Triage Pathways
Article Citation: DOI: 10.1200/JOP.18.00082 Journal of Oncology Practice, Published online December 21, 2018.
Authors:
Ronald Barkley, MS, JD, Cancer Center Business Development Group, Lighthouse Point, FL
Mah-Jabeen Soobader, PhD, Archway Health, Watertown, MA
Jun Wang, MD, PhD, Archway Health, Watertown, MA
Sibel Blau, MD, Northwest Medical Specialties, Tacoma, WA
Ray D. Page, DO, PhD, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Fort Worth, TX
SOURCE Navigating Cancer
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