Care Coordination in Oncology, Quality Among Patients With Lung Cancer and Their Caregivers

The Oncology Care Coordination study is designed to evaluate use of a care coordination tool for lung cancer patients and their caregiver on quality of care and performance outcomes. Eligible patients need to be receiving treatment at Geisinger. Participation in the study involves completion of surveys, permission to review information from the patient's electronic health record, and for some enrollment in the care coordination tool called Harmonized Care. Geisinger oncology care providers who have patients enrolled the study will be invited for interviews.

The case-matched controlled design, exploratory evaluation study will look at how exposure to a care coordination tool impacts quality and performance indicators associated with oncology care from the perspective of patients, caregivers, and providers. Geisinger research staff will recruit lung cancer patients and their caregivers across three Geisinger locations: Geisinger Medical Center (GMC), Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (GWV) and Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC). GMC will serve as the intervention site and GWV and GCMC as control sites. Eligible participants will be identified by the study staff through the electronic health record as well as through clinical staff and approached in the oncology clinic as part of a schedule office visit and/or treatment. For the purpose of study awareness, informational flyers will be available to patients in the exam rooms, waiting rooms, and through Oncology Care's Multi-Disciplinary clinic. Participants will asked to identify a caregiver who will participate in the study as well, however this is not required. Case dyads enrolled at the intervention site (GMC) will be asked to complete a survey when they join the study and at the end of the study. Participants will also be asked to enroll in the care coordination tool, a health information solution that integrates the patient, caregiver, and clinical data to enhance communication and improve quality of care and performance outcomes. Patients will also be asked to give permission to the study team to access their health information via the e electronic health record. Participants will be in the research study for about 8-10 weeks. Control dyads enrolled at the control site (GWV and GCMC) will be asked to complete a survey eight weeks after consenting to participate. Patients will be asked to give permission to the study team to access their health information via the electronic health record. Participants will be in the research study for about 8-10 weeks. The study will also enroll oncology care providers within the Medical Oncology or Radiation Oncology departments at GMC and who have patients enrolled in the study. Providers will be asked to participate in a 30-minute interview to get their feedback and insights on the care coordination tool.