bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Costs of potentially preventable emergency department use during cancer treatment: A regional study.
Authors: Panattoni Laura , Fedorenko Catherine R. , Kreizenbeck Karma L. , Greenlee Stuart , Walker Julia Rose , Greenwood-Hickman Mikael Anne , Barger Sarah , Rieke John Whitelaw , Conklin Ted , Chance Sharon , Eaton Keith D. , Guerrero Rose , Gunkel Mary , Martins Renato G. , Moorhouse Marilyn , Smith Bruce , Lyman Gary H. , Ramsey Scott David 
Published: April 2017

2 Background: There is growing recognition that many emergency department (ED) visits during cancer treatment may be related to poorly controlled disease or treatment-related symptoms and could be prevented. An RCT using the Symptom Tracking and Reporting (STAR) tool for proactive symptom management decreased the percentage of patients admitted to the ED (34% vs. 41%; p=0.02). Little is known about the costs of potentially preventable ED visits in a community setting. This study examined the number and costs of ED visits and their associated diagnoses. Methods: Cancer registry records for patients in Western Washington from 2011 to 2015 were linked with claims from two regional commercial insurers. Patients diagnosed with a solid tumor and treated with chemotherapy or radiation were selected. All ED utilization was tracked for 1 year after the start of treatment. ED-related diagnoses codes were labeled “Potentially Preventable” (PP) if they mapped to the 13 symptom categories targeted by STAR (e.g. pain, nausea) and non-PP otherwise. Costs of ED visits were inflation-adjusted and include claims with ED-related procedure, revenue, and place of service codes. All subsequent inpatient costs were excluded, likely under-estimating total costs. Results: Of the 7,075 eligible patients, 2,543 (35.9%) visited the ED an average of 1.79 times. Pain (720 visits), Dyspnea (279 visits), and Nausea (232 visits) were the most common potentially preventable diagnoses; Hypertension (506 visits), Fever (230 visits), and Diabetes (215 visits) were the most common non-PP diagnoses. $1,134,254 (25.2% of the total ED costs) was spent on PP ED visits. Of PP ED visits 20.3% (178/875) resulted in an inpatient stay. Conclusions: In our community setting, at least one quarter of ED costs were potentially the result of poor symptom management. An investment in better symptom management has a significant opportunity to both improve cancer care and lower total costs.[Table: see text]
Nutritional intervention in high-risk patients receiving radiation for a broad spectrum of tumor types.
Authors: Hertel Chelsea , Harandi Amir , Connery Cliff P. , Papadopoulos Dimitrios ,   Dyson Center for Cancer Care
Published: April 2017

203 Background: Malnutrition is very common in patients receiving radiation therapy. This can result in significant weight loss, decreased functioning, depression, increased mortality, and dramatic declines in quality of life during and after treatment. Targeting patients at risk with nutritional counseling and progressive intervention can have important clinical implications. Methods: A total of 106 patients at a hospital-based cancer center getting radiation for a wide spectrum of cancers (breast, lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and other types) were evaluated for individualized nutritional counseling and education. Patients with identified risk factors were deemed to be at high risk by nursing staff if meeting pre-specified criteria for weight loss ( > 2.5%), body mass index < 18.5%, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (poor appetite, diarrhea, or constipation affecting quality of life). After high risk patients were identified by a nursing staff triage questionnaire, an automatic computer generated referral was made to the nutritionist. Results: Prior to the institution of this protocol, 13.7% of patients getting radiation therapy were noted to be at high risk and not receiving any nutritional intervention during their course of radiotherapy. However, after the initiation of adequate screening by nursing staff triggering a nutrition referral, the percentage of high risk patients without an associated nutrition consult declined to 1.1%. Conclusions: This study conveys important information for having a systemic screening process in place to identify those at risk for progressive malnutrition while getting radiotherapy for a broad spectrum of tumor types.
Association of surgical quality metrics and hospital-level overall survival for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Authors: Schoppy David W. , Ma Yifei , Rhoads Kim Felder , Chen Michelle M , Nussenbaum Brian , Orosco Ryan K. , Rosenthal Eben Lloyd , Divi Vasu 
Published: April 2017

206 Background: Both negative margins and lymph node yields ≥ 18 from neck dissections in patients with head and neck mucosal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) have been correlated with improved overall survival. It is unclear whether these patient-level metrics are applicable at the hospital level, and what compliance rates hospitals would need to achieve to show an improvement in survival. Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify patients who underwent primary surgery that included a neck dissection for mucosal SCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx. The percentage of patients at each institution with negative margins on primary resection and lymph node yields ≥ 18 from a neck dissection was quantified. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine the association between hospital compliance rates with these metrics and overall survival. Results: There were 65,097 patients at 1,087 hospitals in the NCDB who underwent a neck dissection for mucosal SCC of the head and neck. A total of 221 hospitals (20%) had lymph node yields of 18 or higher in ≥ 80% of patients, and 137 hospitals (12.6%) achieved negative margins in ≥ 90% of patients. Patients treated at hospitals that attained the combined quality metric of ≥ 80% compliance rate with lymph node counts and a ≥ 90% compliance rate with negative margins, showed a significant improvement in overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98). This benefit in survival was independent of the patient level improvement seen from having negative margins (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.75) and a lymph node count ≥ 18 (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.88). Treatment at high volume or academic teaching hospitals was not independently associated with improved survival once the model controlled for margin status and lymph node count. Conclusions: Patients with head and neck mucosal SCC experience better survival when treated at hospitals achieving a combined quality metric based on lymph node counts and negative margin rates. National tracking of these modifiable quality metrics may identify facilities that would benefit from quality improvement measures.
Reliability of administrative data for evaluating the quality of systemic treatment for cancer.
Authors: Powis Melanie Lynn , Taback Nathan , Diong Christina , Enright Katherine , Booth Christopher M. , Trudeau Maureen E. , Krzyzanowska Monika K. 
Published: April 2017

208 Background: There is ongoing interest in leveraging administrative data to examine quality but methodological concerns persist. We evaluated the reliability of a previously established panel of administrative data derived quality measures for systemic cancer treatment. Methods: The study cohort consisted of women diagnosed with early stage (stage I-III) breast cancer (ESBC) in Ontario, Canada, in 2010. Performance on 11 quality indicators evaluated using deterministically linked healthcare administrative databases has been reported previously. The sensitivity and specificity of these 11 indicators were examined using the chart as the gold standard. Results: The administrative cohort consisted of 6,795 women with ESBC from which a validation cohort of 705 patients was randomly selected from among patients who underwent cancer surgery at one of five hospitals chosen to balance feasibility and institutional characteristics.Sensitivity and specificity varied by indicator (Table). Reliability of some indicators may have been affected by suboptimal chart documentation in instances where care spanned multiple settings or the medical record was fragmented, or where the number of eligible patients for that indicator was low. Conclusions: Administrative data can be used to evaluate quality of systemic cancer therapy but understanding the reliability characteristics of individual indicators is essential to inform their appropriate use and interpretation. [Table: see text]
Implementing routine assessment of patient-reported outcomes in cancer care.
Authors: Mooney Kathi , Biber Joshua , Hess Rachel , Weeks Howard , Sweetenham John W. 
Published: April 2017

229 Background: Value based cancer care includes measurement of value to the patient. Patient reported outcomes (PRO) are central to assessing outcomes of cancer care but systematically measuring them creates adoption and work flow issues. We report the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s (HCI) experience implementing routine collection of PROs. Methods: Patients on a quarterly basis either prior to a scheduled visit via email or at the visit via tablet, complete 5 PROMIS measures (fatigue, pain interference, anxiety, depression and physical function) administered in computer-assisted test (CAT) format. Patients also complete a current health visual analog scale and general health question. Data are automatically and seamlessly populated to the electronic health record (EHR) for clinician review at the visit and are stored within the data warehouse. Results: Roll-out began sequentially to all HCI oncology outpatient clinics in July 2016, with a new clinic added every 2 weeks. To date PRO assessment is operational in every HCI clinic with over 9,800 assessments completed by 8,600 patients. Most assessments have been completed in the clinic as at-home completion was a recent option. Time to complete assessments average 5 minutes. Findings to date demonstrate that HCI patients are within average norms for cancer patients on the measures. Approximately 3% of depression assessments were at an elevated level and automatically routed to social work for follow-up. Initial assessments will serve as the basis for tracking quality improvement initiatives in the future. Missed assessments were common during initial startup. Completion was more likely when the clinicians valued having the data during the clinic visit and made it an expectation for collection by front end staff at visit registration. Conclusions: Technology-aided patient reported outcomes can be systematically and successfully collected during outpatient care, with triage of scores beyond acceptable thresholds for follow-up. Baseline scores will serve to evaluate improvements in care over time. Critical to success are clinical champions who value and understand the scoring and interpretation of patient reported data and make staff facilitation of data collection an expectation.
A natural language processing algorithm to measure quality prostate cancer care.
Authors: Hernandez-Boussard Tina , Kourdis Panagiotis , Dulal Rajendra , Ferrari Michelle , Henry Solomon , Seto Tina , McDonald Kathryn , Blayney Douglas W. , Brooks James D. 
Published: April 2017

232 Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) are a widely adopted but underutilized source of data for systematic assessment of healthcare quality. Barriers for use of this data source include its vast complexity, lack of structure, and the lack of use of standardized vocabulary and terminology by clinicians. This project aims to develop generalizable algorithms to extract useful knowledge regarding prostate cancer quality metrics from EHRs. Methods: We used EHR ICD-9/10 codes to identify prostate cancer patients receiving care at our academic medical center. Patients were confirmed in the California Cancer Registry (CCR), which provided data on tumor characteristics, treatment data, treatment outcomes and survival. We focused on three potential pretreatment process quality measures, which included documentation within 6 months prior to initial treatment of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal exam (DRE) performance, and Gleason score. Each quality metric was defined using target terms and concepts to extract from the EHRs. Terms were mapped to a standardized medical vocabulary or ontology, enabling us to represent the metric elements by a concept domain and its permissible values. The structured representation of the quality metric included rules that accounted for the temporal order of the metric components. Our algorithms used natural language processing for free text annotation and negation, to ensure terms such as ‘DRE deferred’ are appropriately categorized. Results: We identified 2,123 patients receiving prostate cancer treatment between 2008-2016, of whom 1413 (67%) were matched in the CCR. We compared accuracy of our data mining algorithm, a random sample of manual chart review, and the CCR. (See Table.) Conclusions: EHR systems can be used to assess and report quality metrics systematically, efficiently, and with high accuracy. The development of such systems can improve and reduce the burden of quality reporting and potentially reduce costs of measuring quality metrics through automation. [Table: see text]
Treatment sequences in non-small cell lung cancer in the United States from 2014-2016.
Authors: Hess Lisa M. , Cui Zhanglin Lin , Li Xiaohong , Beyrer Julie , Oton Ana Belen 
Published: April 2017

237 Background: A number of important advancements in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) have increased and diversified options for improved patient care based on individual characteristics. The ability to tailor therapy increases the challenges related to appropriate treatment sequencing. This study was designed to describe these emerging treatment patterns following the approval of novel targeted agents. Methods: Flatiron Health OncoEMR, a nationally-representative electronic medical records database in the US, was used to evaluate treatment patterns by histology (squamous and nonsquamous). Eligible patients were 18+ years of age who initiated 2ndline therapy for mNSCLC from Dec 2014-Jul 2016. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the clinical and demographic characteristics of the study population, treatments used by line of therapy, and treatment sequencing. Analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.2. Results: A total of 3498 eligible patients were included in this study: 51.3% male; mean age 66.6 years; 65% white; 25% squamous/70.7% nonsquamous (4.3% not specified); and 93% were treated at community practices. ALK testing was performed on 20.0%/74.8%, EGFR testing on 21.5%/79.8%, and PDL-1 on 8.6%/9.7% of patients with squamous/nonsquamous tumors, respectively. Single-agent PDL-1 inhibitors were used by 54.2% of squamous and 35.2% of nonsquamous patients in the 2nd-line setting; however, there were more than 35 (squamous) and 64 (nonsquamous) unique first-line regimens prior to single-agent PDL-1 treatment. Other 2nd-line regimens included pemetrexed (24.9% of nonsquamous patients) and gemcitabine (18.4% of squamous patients), which were preceded by 70 and 48 unique first-line regimens, respectively. Conclusions: There is interest in understanding treatment sequencing to identify the optimal sequence of care for patients with NSCLC; however, there was considerable heterogeneity in sequencing. Since few patients follow any similar trajectory of care, comparative effectiveness research will be challenged to appropriately balance groups due to insufficient patient numbers in any specific treatment sequence.
Development of cancer care episodes to measure costs for breast, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancer.
Authors: Fedorenko Catherine R. , Kreizenbeck Karma L. , Panattoni Laura , Walker Julia Rose , McDermott Cara L. , Greenwood-Hickman Mikael Anne , Lyman Gary H. , Conklin Ted , Smith Bruce , Barger Sarah , Ramsey Scott David 
Published: April 2017

29 Background: Cancer care costs are rising, creating concerns about affordability. As a result, delivery systems are creating alternative payment structures to lower costs while maintaining or improving quality. As cancer care delivery often involves multiple provider systems, measuring cost may be difficult. In response, using commercial insurance claims linked to cancer registry records, we constructed broadly applicable, reproducible, clinically relevant episodes to measure costs. Methods: Cancer registry records for patients diagnosed in Western Washington from January 2007-June 2016 were linked with claims from two regional commercial insurers. Patients are age 18+, diagnosed with breast, colorectal (CRC), or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and enrolled with a single insurance plan. With oncologist input, we constructed three care phases: diagnosis (30 days before diagnosis to first treatment), initial treatment (first treatment through first 4 month treatment gap), and end of life (last 30 days). Costs include all claims paid within the phase (2016 inflation adjusted). Supportive care includes colony-stimulating factors, blood transfusions, antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiemetics. Results: This study included 8,727 patients at diagnosis, 7,686 during treatment, and 1,736 at end of life. Diagnosis phase averaged 54 days and cost $6,936 (SD $11,761, median $4,021). Treatment averaged 126 days, with costs of $61,148 (SD $75,432, median $35,750). Average end-of-life costs were $15,829 (SD $30,222, median $2,347). The table below provides an example of the variation in costs during the treatment phase using local-stage tumors. Conclusions: Clinically relevant episodes of care and cost measures can be constructed using claims-registry data. This allows for identification of high-cost care categories and areas with large-cost variability, which may be helpful when designing value-based reimbursement programs or identifying areas for potential cost-reduction.[Table: see text]
Toxicity of high-dose interferon for high-risk melanoma in Ontario: A population-based study of health services use.
Authors: Hanna Timothy P. , Baetz Tara D. , Xu Jianfeng , Miao Qun , Earle Craig , Peng Yingwei , Booth Christopher M. , Petrella Teresa M. , McKay Douglas , Nguyen Paul , Langley Hugh , Eisenhauer Elizabeth A. 
Published: April 2017

31 Background: While High-Dose Interferon (HDIFN) is the sole approved adjuvant systemic treatment for melanoma in Ontario and many other jurisdictions, it is toxic, of modest benefit, and costly. We sought to assess the population-level impact of toxicity, particularly neuro-psychiatric toxicity. This can inform value assessment for the adjuvant treatment of melanoma. Methods: This was a retrospective population-based registry study of all patients with melanoma receiving adjuvant HDIFN in Ontario 2008-2012. HDIFN receipt was determined from provincial drug-funding data. Toxicity was investigated through health services use compatible with HDIFN toxicity (e.g. mental health physician billings). Associations between early HDIFN discontinuation and health services use were examined. Using stage data reported from cancer centers on a subset of patients, propensity matched analysis compared utilization in stage IIB-IIIC patients that did and did not receive HDIFN. Results: Of 718 patients receiving HDIFN, 12% were ≥65 years, 83% had little or no comorbidity. One third had ≥1 toxicity-associated utilization within one year of starting HDIFN. 364/420 (87%) of utilization was mental health-related: 54% were family practitioner visits, 39% psychiatrist visits. Early drug discontinuation was more likely with pre-existing mental health issues in multivariable analysis (OR 2.0 (1.1,3.4)). In propensity matched analysis, HDIFN patients were more likely than untreated matched controls to have mental health utilization (51% vs. 42%, p=0.01) between 1 year pre-melanoma diagnosis to 2 years post. Conclusions: Mental health services use is common among stage IIB-IIIC patients with melanoma, especially with HDIFN. This emphasizes an important survivorship issue for these patients, and for those receiving HDIFN, and impacts the value of care. Pre-treatment mental health services use is associated with treatment discontinuation. This is important when contemplating the value of HDIFN use for individual patients. For those receiving HDIFN, optimal support must include mental health care.
Radiation therapist (RT) perceptions and practices related to safety culture (SC) and error reporting in radiation oncology.
Authors: Hashemi David , Woodhouse Kristina Demas , Monzon Brian , Rosenthal Seth A. , Vapiwala Neha 
Published: April 2017

42 Background: The delivery of radiotherapy is complex and demands careful management, high vigilance, and precise coordination of clinical personnel. RTs are at the frontline and are often first to discover or report an error. However, few studies have examined RT patient safety practices. We conducted a national survey to explore the attitudes, training, and experiences of RTs related to safety in radiation oncology. Methods: In 2016, an electronic survey was sent in June and July to a random sample of 1,500 RTs (~10% of licensed RTs in the US). The survey assessed department SC, error reporting, knowledge, and practices. Questions were multiple choice or recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 702 RTs from 48 states (47% response rate) completed the survey. Respondents represented a broad distribution across practice and geographic settings with varying levels of work experience (see table). Most RTs gave their department a “Patient Safety Grade” of Excellent (61%) or Very Good (32%), especially if they had an Incident Learning System (ILS) (OR: 2.0). Most departments (58%) had an ILS; however 59% of RTs had not reported an event in the previous year. When an error occurred but did not result in patient harm, 39% of RTs said they would report it and 37% said they would not. Bullying was reported among 17% of respondents; 40% reported that burnout, stress, and anxiety negatively impacted their ability to effectively treat patients. RTs reported errors were more likely to occur with longer work days (>8hrs) and poor multidisciplinary communication during handoffs and transitions. Most (62%) reported they could benefit from additional patient safety education and training, indicating significant interest in this topic. Conclusions: The majority of RTs reported excellent SC practices within their treatment facilities. Most facilities had systems in place to report errors. The obstacles identified, the results of this study may inform future educational efforts and safety initiatives directed towards RTs and should help increase awareness of patient SC in radiation oncology.