Case study #2
A patient with high-grade prostate cancer came to the Center to evaluate potential treatment options, surgery and/or radiation therapy. I recommended radiation therapy, given that it would be needed even if surgery were chosen as first-line therapy, and recommended neoadjuvant hormone therapy. MOSAIQ/Palabra automatically captured the treatment recommendations and forwarded information to the urologist, medical oncologist as well to the patient’s cardiologist, who needed to determine if there were any safety concerns about this patient’s use of hormone therapy. The patient is on track to initiate an eight-week course of hormone therapy followed by radiation therapy, and all upcoming visits and treatment sessions have already been scheduled and documented in MOSAIQ. This allows for automated reminders and notification of any pre-visit actions needed to ensure productive and efficient visits to the Cancer Center.

The patient data deluge: sink or swim

Technology and automation can be effective solutions to the deluge of patient data that pose a challenge to physicians and care centers. Investing in these technologies should be seen as an investment in patients because they can optimize care by reducing errors and maximizing effective communication and coordination among all of a patient’s care providers. New cancer technologies have historically been available only at large academic care centers, but 80% of cancer patients are treated in community care settings. Community care centers may be challenged by the capital expenditures associated with implementing cutting-edge electronic health records (EHRs) and voice recognition systems, but it is important to focus on the long-term returns that these investments provide. Community cancer centers also have recruitment issues in finding radiation oncologists to serve these areas. Coupled with the “graying of America” and increased numbers of cancer patients being diagnosed, technologies such as these, that improve efficiency and productivity, are lifesavers.

A key benefit is the potential for reducing expenses by eliminating transcription costs, reducing errors and increasing physician productivity. Another important consideration is the need for simple and accurate processes for collecting and submitting data in order to meet the requirements of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program (formally known as “meaningful use”). MOSAIQ provides validated data that can help ensure these requirements are fulfilled, and simplify the data submission, optimizing the payments that the care center can receive under the program. Healthcare is a competitive business, and community-based care centers that invest in new technology will be better positioned to attract and retain patients who might otherwise travel to larger institutions. All of these factors highlight the value of investing in data management technology. For cancer centers drowning in patient data, technology solutions offer a lifeline that should be considered regardless of size or geographic location.

About the author: Anand Kuruvilla is the director of the Cancer Center of Putnam.
Back to HCB News

Health IT Homepage