Wehner S

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. The American Cancer Society estimated about 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer in 2018. Since opening its doors in 1932, the New Mexico VA Healthcare System (NMVAHCS) had not held a prostate cancer support group. A review of the literature suggests that older prostate cancer patients benefit from the continuous social support in face-toface support groups. In light of the American Cancer Society estimates and the predominately male population served at the NMVAHCS, of which nearly 1300 of these veterans are living with prostate cancer, the need for a support group warranted investigation.

Methods: A needs assessment was completed with 50 veterans diagnosed with prostate and receiving care in the Urology Section of the New Mexico VA Healthcare System. This assessment included a 3 question survey aimed at determining veteran awareness of the Albuquerque community prostate cancer support group, attendance at this support group and lastly if they would attend a veteran centered prostate cancer support group on the NMVAHCS campus.

Results: Of the 50 veterans surveyed, 40% were aware of the community based prostate cancer support group while 12% had actually attended a meeting. 60% of the respondents stated that they would attend a veterans-centered prostate cancer support group on the NMVAHCS campus. 50% of those who responded that they would not attend a meeting stated that they lived too far away from the main campus but would attend via a telehealth meeting at their local community based outpatient clinic (CBOC).

Conclusion: Based on the survey findings, the decision was made to launch a Veteran Center Prostate Cancer Support Group. Men Talking to Men about Prostate Cancer held its inaugural meeting June 6, 2018 and has continued to meet bi-monthly. Sessions are facilitated by the New Mexico Prostate Cancer Support Association and include a multidisciplinary presentation of issues common to the veteran prostate cancer patient as well as a physician led question and answer session.

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. The American Cancer Society estimated about 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer in 2018. Since opening its doors in 1932, the New Mexico VA Healthcare System (NMVAHCS) had not held a prostate cancer support group. A review of the literature suggests that older prostate cancer patients benefit from the continuous social support in face-toface support groups. In light of the American Cancer Society estimates and the predominately male population served at the NMVAHCS, of which nearly 1300 of these veterans are living with prostate cancer, the need for a support group warranted investigation.

Methods: A needs assessment was completed with 50 veterans diagnosed with prostate and receiving care in the Urology Section of the New Mexico VA Healthcare System. This assessment included a 3 question survey aimed at determining veteran awareness of the Albuquerque community prostate cancer support group, attendance at this support group and lastly if they would attend a veteran centered prostate cancer support group on the NMVAHCS campus.

Results: Of the 50 veterans surveyed, 40% were aware of the community based prostate cancer support group while 12% had actually attended a meeting. 60% of the respondents stated that they would attend a veterans-centered prostate cancer support group on the NMVAHCS campus. 50% of those who responded that they would not attend a meeting stated that they lived too far away from the main campus but would attend via a telehealth meeting at their local community based outpatient clinic (CBOC).

Conclusion: Based on the survey findings, the decision was made to launch a Veteran Center Prostate Cancer Support Group. Men Talking to Men about Prostate Cancer held its inaugural meeting June 6, 2018 and has continued to meet bi-monthly. Sessions are facilitated by the New Mexico Prostate Cancer Support Association and include a multidisciplinary presentation of issues common to the veteran prostate cancer patient as well as a physician led question and answer session.

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. The American Cancer Society estimated about 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer in 2018. Since opening its doors in 1932, the New Mexico VA Healthcare System (NMVAHCS) had not held a prostate cancer support group. A review of the literature suggests that older prostate cancer patients benefit from the continuous social support in face-toface support groups. In light of the American Cancer Society estimates and the predominately male population served at the NMVAHCS, of which nearly 1300 of these veterans are living with prostate cancer, the need for a support group warranted investigation.

Methods: A needs assessment was completed with 50 veterans diagnosed with prostate and receiving care in the Urology Section of the New Mexico VA Healthcare System. This assessment included a 3 question survey aimed at determining veteran awareness of the Albuquerque community prostate cancer support group, attendance at this support group and lastly if they would attend a veteran centered prostate cancer support group on the NMVAHCS campus.

Results: Of the 50 veterans surveyed, 40% were aware of the community based prostate cancer support group while 12% had actually attended a meeting. 60% of the respondents stated that they would attend a veterans-centered prostate cancer support group on the NMVAHCS campus. 50% of those who responded that they would not attend a meeting stated that they lived too far away from the main campus but would attend via a telehealth meeting at their local community based outpatient clinic (CBOC).

Conclusion: Based on the survey findings, the decision was made to launch a Veteran Center Prostate Cancer Support Group. Men Talking to Men about Prostate Cancer held its inaugural meeting June 6, 2018 and has continued to meet bi-monthly. Sessions are facilitated by the New Mexico Prostate Cancer Support Association and include a multidisciplinary presentation of issues common to the veteran prostate cancer patient as well as a physician led question and answer session.

Problem: With improved treatment modalities, cancer has become a chronic disease. However, without appropriate surveillance Veteran outcomes fall short of expected survival rates.

Extended longevity increases the likelihood of recurrence. The potential for development of secondary diseases or other iatrogenic disorders caused by cancer treatments also increases over time. Therefore, appropriate surveillance remains essential for detection of early complications: improving Veterans outcomes and value.

Background: Commission on Cancer accreditation requires provision of a survivorship care plan (SCP): retroactive disease and treatment information abstracted from the medical record provided at the end of treatment. The intent aims to increase communication of care as patients transition from oncology specialists. However, waiting until the completion of care fails to provide value for our Veteran or improve quality outcomes during the cancer treatment trajectory and active surveillance phase.

Our Veteran population remains stoic, ignoring symptoms requiring medical attention until symptoms become unbearable. By this time, disease progression is usually advanced. Veterans present to the emergency room in late stages of disease requiring emergent surgeries or chemotherapeutic treatments. Regrettably, such costly interventions lack extended value and only serve to stabilize or palliate symptoms: leading to poor overall Veteran outcomes and litigation liabilities for the facility.

Methods: The New Mexico VAHCS process remains different: a proactive approach, beginning at diagnosis. Imbedded health factors in the SCP, capture the provider’s individualized plan for each Veteran: identifying when surveillance care is due. Utilizing technology, the Central Data Warehouse captures this plan and populates the Cancer Dashboard. Previously, monitoring such plans remained tedious: relying on Excel spreadsheets. However, the creation of the Dashboard allows proactive identification of Veterans needing care.

Results: This system has enabled trusting relationships with our Veterans. Since implementation, the no-show rate of Veterans living with cancer has decreased from 53% to 0.09%: enabling timely care.

Conclusions: The use of health factors in proactive formats improves quality care and provides data: offering information to monitor quality metrics and establish benchmarks: improving the delivery of evidence-based care. Automation prevents loss to follow-up, decreases duplication of services, prevents omissions, and delivery of unnecessary care.

Problem: With improved treatment modalities, cancer has become a chronic disease. However, without appropriate surveillance Veteran outcomes fall short of expected survival rates.

Extended longevity increases the likelihood of recurrence. The potential for development of secondary diseases or other iatrogenic disorders caused by cancer treatments also increases over time. Therefore, appropriate surveillance remains essential for detection of early complications: improving Veterans outcomes and value.

Background: Commission on Cancer accreditation requires provision of a survivorship care plan (SCP): retroactive disease and treatment information abstracted from the medical record provided at the end of treatment. The intent aims to increase communication of care as patients transition from oncology specialists. However, waiting until the completion of care fails to provide value for our Veteran or improve quality outcomes during the cancer treatment trajectory and active surveillance phase.

Our Veteran population remains stoic, ignoring symptoms requiring medical attention until symptoms become unbearable. By this time, disease progression is usually advanced. Veterans present to the emergency room in late stages of disease requiring emergent surgeries or chemotherapeutic treatments. Regrettably, such costly interventions lack extended value and only serve to stabilize or palliate symptoms: leading to poor overall Veteran outcomes and litigation liabilities for the facility.

Methods: The New Mexico VAHCS process remains different: a proactive approach, beginning at diagnosis. Imbedded health factors in the SCP, capture the provider’s individualized plan for each Veteran: identifying when surveillance care is due. Utilizing technology, the Central Data Warehouse captures this plan and populates the Cancer Dashboard. Previously, monitoring such plans remained tedious: relying on Excel spreadsheets. However, the creation of the Dashboard allows proactive identification of Veterans needing care.

Results: This system has enabled trusting relationships with our Veterans. Since implementation, the no-show rate of Veterans living with cancer has decreased from 53% to 0.09%: enabling timely care.

Conclusions: The use of health factors in proactive formats improves quality care and provides data: offering information to monitor quality metrics and establish benchmarks: improving the delivery of evidence-based care. Automation prevents loss to follow-up, decreases duplication of services, prevents omissions, and delivery of unnecessary care.

Problem: With improved treatment modalities, cancer has become a chronic disease. However, without appropriate surveillance Veteran outcomes fall short of expected survival rates.

Extended longevity increases the likelihood of recurrence. The potential for development of secondary diseases or other iatrogenic disorders caused by cancer treatments also increases over time. Therefore, appropriate surveillance remains essential for detection of early complications: improving Veterans outcomes and value.

Background: Commission on Cancer accreditation requires provision of a survivorship care plan (SCP): retroactive disease and treatment information abstracted from the medical record provided at the end of treatment. The intent aims to increase communication of care as patients transition from oncology specialists. However, waiting until the completion of care fails to provide value for our Veteran or improve quality outcomes during the cancer treatment trajectory and active surveillance phase.

Our Veteran population remains stoic, ignoring symptoms requiring medical attention until symptoms become unbearable. By this time, disease progression is usually advanced. Veterans present to the emergency room in late stages of disease requiring emergent surgeries or chemotherapeutic treatments. Regrettably, such costly interventions lack extended value and only serve to stabilize or palliate symptoms: leading to poor overall Veteran outcomes and litigation liabilities for the facility.

Methods: The New Mexico VAHCS process remains different: a proactive approach, beginning at diagnosis. Imbedded health factors in the SCP, capture the provider’s individualized plan for each Veteran: identifying when surveillance care is due. Utilizing technology, the Central Data Warehouse captures this plan and populates the Cancer Dashboard. Previously, monitoring such plans remained tedious: relying on Excel spreadsheets. However, the creation of the Dashboard allows proactive identification of Veterans needing care.

Results: This system has enabled trusting relationships with our Veterans. Since implementation, the no-show rate of Veterans living with cancer has decreased from 53% to 0.09%: enabling timely care.

Conclusions: The use of health factors in proactive formats improves quality care and provides data: offering information to monitor quality metrics and establish benchmarks: improving the delivery of evidence-based care. Automation prevents loss to follow-up, decreases duplication of services, prevents omissions, and delivery of unnecessary care.