Improving veteran access to lung cancer care (IVaLuCancerCare): A quality improvement project at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (LSVAMC).
Authors: Rami Manochakian, Jennifer Smith, Stephanie Mervar, Deborah Fox, Kauzy Woods, Meredith Driscol, Diana Whittlesey, Adir Ludin, Frank Jacono, Byschelle Jesberger, Nannette Alvarado, Jason Robke, Susan Berman, Jennifer Dimick, Sonya Curry, Matt Barnum, Marissa Vallette, Angela Howard, Joseph A. Bokar, Lisa Marie Arfons
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2015)

Article Tools Health Services Research and Quality of Care Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.6530 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print May 20, 2015 Improving veteran access to lung cancer care (IVaLuCancerCare): A quality improvement project at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (LSVAMC). Rami ManochakianxRami ManochakianSearch for articles by this author , Jennifer SmithxJennifer SmithSearch for articles by this author , Stephanie MervarxStephanie MervarSearch for articles by this author , Deborah FoxxDeborah FoxSearch for articles by this author , Kauzy WoodsxKauzy WoodsSearch for articles by this author , Meredith DriscolxMeredith DriscolSearch for articles by this author , Diana WhittleseyxDiana WhittleseySearch for articles by this author , Adir LudinxAdir LudinSearch for articles by this author , Frank JaconoxFrank JaconoSearch for articles by this author , Byschelle JesbergerxByschelle JesbergerSearch for articles by this author , Nannette AlvaradoxNannette AlvaradoSearch for articles by this author , Jason RobkexJason RobkeSearch for articles by this author , Susan BermanxSusan BermanSearch for articles by this author , Jennifer DimickxJennifer DimickSearch for articles by this author , Sonya CurryxSonya CurrySearch for articles by this author , Matt BarnumxMatt BarnumSearch for articles by this author , Marissa VallettexMarissa ValletteSearch for articles by this author , Angela HowardxAngela HowardSearch for articles by this author , Joseph A. BokarxJoseph A. BokarSearch for articles by this author , Lisa Marie ArfonsxLisa Marie ArfonsSearch for articles by this author Show More Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC, Cleveland, OH; VA Center for Applied Systems Engineering, Indianapolis, IN Abstract Disclosures https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.6530 Abstract Abstract 6530 Background: At the LSVAMC, one of the largest VA medical centers in the USA, about 190 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed yearly and 450 veterans are followed for lung cancer care. "IVALuCancerCare" is a quality improvement project supported bya grant from theVA Office of Specialty Care Transformation. Through this project, a new multidisciplinary lung cancer program launched in October 2013 to address three gaps in lung cancer care: timeliness of care, coordination of care and access to palliative care. Methods: To address the gaps, we targeted three specific aims and proposed the following goals: 1) Increase percentage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who receive first treatment within 28 days from diagnosis from 33% to 50%. 2) Increase percentage of medical oncology visits that are associated with 2 or more additional appointments on the same day from 33% to 50%. 3) Increase percentage of advanced lung cancer patients who receive a palliative care consultation from 10% to 75% and percentage of those who receive ongoing collaborative palliative care from 0% to 30%. In order to reach our goals, we implemented through this project, and with help from the VA Center for Applied Systems Engineering, multiple interventions including a new dedicated multidisciplinary weekly lung cancer clinic, dedicated patient navigator, weekly lung tumor board and nodule rounds, new lung cancer education clinic, new lung cancer tracking tools, distress screening and management and others. Results: From October 2013 to July 2014, percentage of NSCLC patients who received first treatment within 28 days from diagnosis was 58%. Percentage of medical oncology visits that were associated with 2 or more additional appointments on the same day was 60%. Percentage of advanced lung cancer patients who received a palliative care consultation was 90% and percentage of those who received ongoing collaborative palliative care was 69%. Conclusions: "IVALuCancerCare" project at the LSVAMC significantly improved the care for veterans with lung cancer. The project’s goals were met. We plan to sustain and spread the above changes and identify new ways to further enhance our program. © 2015 by American Society of Clinical Oncology