Dr. Kunthur, Dr. Xiang, and Dr. Mehta are staff hematology/oncologists, all at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Kaur is a resident, Dr. Jewell is a hematology/oncology fellow, Dr. Kunthur and Dr. Xiang are assistant professors of hematology/oncology, and Dr. Mehta is a professor of hematology/oncology, all at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
References
Conclusion
Cancer patients experience various AEs of cancer treatment, psychosocial distress, and can be lost to follow-up. It is important for health care providers to recognize and screen for the complications and provide SCPs, which includes a treatment summary and follow-up care to communicate and coordinate quality cancer survivorship care. Providers can use tools and resources developed by various organizations to develop and implement SCPs. The CoC surveys and accredits the cancer programs for quality measures, and has developed a new standard to provide SCPs for all patients effective 2015.
The CAVHS has already adopted this standard and has developed a template to complete a treatment summary and follow-up care planning in the EHR. The cancer treatment summary is given to the patient and is available to the PCP for review. There is also a need for more quality research in survivorship.
Author disclosures The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.
Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Federal Practitioner, Frontline Medical Communications Inc., the U.S. Government, or any of its agencies. This article may discuss unlabeled or investigational use of certain drugs. Please review the complete prescribing information for specific drugs or drug combinations—including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects—before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.
