Health Care Coach Support in Reducing Acute Care Use and Cost in Patients With Cancer

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies health care coach support in reducing acute care use and cost in patients with cancer. Health care coach support may help cancer patients to make decisions about their care that matches what is important to them with symptom management.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To reduce acute care utilization by 2-5% for advanced cancer patients by training and deploying health care coaches who help patients and families discuss care goals, virtual modalities, engage in shared-decision-making, and participate in educational activities. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To improve patients' experience of their care. II. Improve patient understanding of advanced care planning. III. To improve the receipt of goal concordant care. IV. To reduce total healthcare costs. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM A: Patients receive usual care. ARM B: Patients undergo health care coach support with a baseline introduction (either telephonic or in-person) of the program followed by a visit (telephonic or in-person) with the health care coach after the first oncology appointment to discuss goals of care. The health care coach will contact patient based on patients' ongoing needs (weekly to monthly) and will conduct symptom assessments based on patients' treatment plans and symptoms. After completion of study, patients are followed up for 6 months.