Tuesday, August 20, 2013

National study gives an overview of current approaches and barriers to care patient-centered

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National study gives an overview of current approaches and barriers to care patient-centered -

To meet the new accreditation standards for cancer programs, institutions put new emphasis on patient navigation, psychosocial distress screening and survival plans of care. Studies published recently by George Washington University (GW) Cancer Institute has found these new programs are experiencing "growing pains." The results of a national survey conducted by the GW Cancer Institute and reviewed in the Journal of Oncology navigation and Survivorship, found that health care professionals could benefit most from greater assessment of the impact of their program.

"This national study of GW Cancer Institute Center for promotion of cancer survival, navigation and politics to better understand the approaches and barriers for patient-centered care in practice, "said Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, Director of the Institute of cancer GW. "These results will help us focus our collective efforts to remedy shortcomings identified such as the delimitation navigation role and how to measure the value of these programs."

The survey, completed by 100 health care suppliers-many of them navigators for patients and nurses found that nearly half of respondents had both a navigation program and survival in their establishment. full-time navigators had an average load of 100 patients -400 patients in different stages of the continuum of cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and after treatment. respondents identified a wide range of measures and monitoring tools, with a heavy reliance on low-tech options . the biggest challenge identified area was a lack of funding. while showing value was seen as a way to support navigation programs, nearly 60 percent of respondents were not following the value at all. . In addition, the clarity of roles was cited as a major challenge

The research found that the browsers of patients helping patients during screening may be able to navigate a significantly higher number of patients each year that browsers that help patients after diagnosis; and browsers supporting patients in treatment may need a smaller workload browsers supporting patients in other parts of the continuum. The results also indicate a need to identify financially viable models for patient navigation and clinical survival programs, and consensus on the basic measures.

"Our findings provide a critical look at the implementation practices concerning navigation and survival through the institutions of programs the country," said Anne Willis, MA, Director of the Division of cancer survivorship at the GW cancer Institute. "These findings will help health professionals working to create and improve programs, where little guidance is available."


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