This is a single-arm, prospective pilot study evaluating the feasibility and process impact of embedding Community Health Support Specialist (CHSS) navigation within the emergency department (ED)-to-treatment pathway for patients with newly suspected or newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (HNC). The study will be conducted at two University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)-affiliated hospitals: Methodist University Hospital and Regional One Health.
Eligible participants are adults aged 18 years or older who present to the ED with a new or suspected HNC involving the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, salivary glands, skin, sinonasal region, nasopharynx, thyroid, or an unknown primary. Patients with prior established oncology care for HNC, those enrolled in hospice, incarcerated individuals, or patients who cannot be contacted by telephone will be excluded.
During routine clinical care in the ED, otolaryngology residents identify potentially eligible patients and introduce the study using an IRB-approved consent disclosure statement. ED activities are limited to screening and obtaining permission to contact; no informed consent or HIPAA authorization occurs in the ED.
After ED discharge, a trained study team member conducts the full informed consent process electronically using REDCap eConsent. Participants may review the consent form remotely with study staff and provide electronic signature with date/time acknowledgment. Only participants who complete electronic informed consent and HIPAA authorization are enrolled.
Following enrollment, CHSS specialists initiate outreach within 72 hours of ED discharge and provide structured, non-clinical navigation support through at least two telephone or text-based contacts prior to initiation of definitive cancer treatment. CHSS activities focus on identifying and addressing barriers to care, including transportation challenges, insurance or financial barriers, housing instability, and communication gaps. CHSS staff do not provide medical advice, schedule clinical appointments, or alter treatment plans. All encounters are documented using standardized REDCap case report forms.
The primary outcomes are (1) time from ED discharge to diagnostic biopsy and (2) time from ED discharge to initiation of definitive treatment. Secondary outcomes include feasibility, measured as the proportion of enrolled participants who complete CHSS navigation. Exploratory outcomes describe the types of social barriers identified, the proportion of barriers resolved, and patterns of navigation support.
Study data are entered and stored in REDCap, a secure, HIPAA-compliant database hosted by UTHSC. Outcomes for the pilot cohort will be compared with a historical control group of similar ED-presenting HNC patients treated at UTHSC-affiliated hospitals in the 24 months preceding program implementation. Analyses will use descriptive, non-parametric, and regression methods to estimate feasibility metrics and effect sizes to inform future multi-site studies.
This study is funded through the UTHSC Cancer Center's Access to Cancer Care Pilot Project and builds upon the Tennessee Department of Health-supported ENRICH program, which deploys CHSS specialists to reduce disparities in cancer care. Results will inform potential expansion of this navigation model to improve equity, timeliness, and outcomes for head and neck cancer patients presenting through the emergency department.
