Sarah H Kagan1,2, Brianna Morgan2, Teresa Smink1, Debra DeMille1, Christine Huntzinger1,3, Meredith Pauly1,3, Mary Pat Lynch1,2. 1. Joan Karnell Supportive and Palliative Care Team, Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 2. School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 3. Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People living with head and neck cancer frequently encounter challenges in their treatment with multimodality therapy and risk of side effects. Ensuring access to and use of interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care is often challenging given the complex needs and unfamiliar treatment experiences. OBJECTIVES: Describe the CARE Clinic Plus ONN Gate Opener as an approach to enhance access to and utilization of interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care for people living with head and neck cancer. DISCUSSION: The Cancer Appetite and Rehabilitation (CARE) Clinic model offers interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care to patients at risk, including those living with head and neck cancer. The oncology nurse navigator (ONN) serves as gate opener, ensuring that those individuals receive appropriate assessment with personalized education and referrals for timely prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and palliation. CONCLUSIONS: The ONN, as a gate opener for people living with head and neck cancer, offers an innovative approach to elevate the patient experience and improve clinical outcomes through interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care when working in collaboration with the CARE Clinic. Guidance for other centers to adapt our model to meet their patient and family needs concludes our discussion.
BACKGROUND: People living with head and neck cancer frequently encounter challenges in their treatment with multimodality therapy and risk of side effects. Ensuring access to and use of interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care is often challenging given the complex needs and unfamiliar treatment experiences. OBJECTIVES: Describe the CARE Clinic Plus ONN Gate Opener as an approach to enhance access to and utilization of interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care for people living with head and neck cancer. DISCUSSION: The Cancer Appetite and Rehabilitation (CARE) Clinic model offers interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care to patients at risk, including those living with head and neck cancer. The oncology nurse navigator (ONN) serves as gate opener, ensuring that those individuals receive appropriate assessment with personalized education and referrals for timely prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and palliation. CONCLUSIONS: The ONN, as a gate opener for people living with head and neck cancer, offers an innovative approach to elevate the patient experience and improve clinical outcomes through interdisciplinary supportive and palliative care when working in collaboration with the CARE Clinic. Guidance for other centers to adapt our model to meet their patient and family needs concludes our discussion.
Authors: Betty R Ferrell; Jennifer S Temel; Sarah Temin; Erin R Alesi; Tracy A Balboni; Ethan M Basch; Janice I Firn; Judith A Paice; Jeffrey M Peppercorn; Tanyanika Phillips; Ellen L Stovall; Camilla Zimmermann; Thomas J Smith Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2016-10-28 Impact factor: 44.544