The primary objective of this research study is to assess Radiation Oncology healthcare providers (i.e. faculty, residents and advanced practice providers (APPs) implementation and perception of telehealth for on treatment patients in lieu of in person on treatment visits during standard of care radiotherapy during COVID-19.
A secondary aim will be to evaluate the rates of acute care during COVID-19 with telehealth
in comparison to the rates during our prior Quality Improvement (QI) project (NCT04277650),
considering the risk prediction based on our previously developed ML algorithm. Patient risk
during this period will be assessed by the ML algorithm and actual rates of Emergency
Department visits and hospitalizations (acute encounters) will be compared to the results of
our prior QI project. These data will be used to discern how actual rates of acute care
compare to providers' expectations both with and without telehealth implementation. Reasons
for acute encounters and associated healthcare costs compared to patients undergoing standard
of care assessments in NCT04277650 will be assessed to determine the percentage that are
COVID-19 related. Basic demographic, disease, location of acute care, form of clinical
assessments (video, in-person, telephone, etc.), and treatment information regarding the
patients will also be captured following the completion of the research project for
assessment.
These endpoints will establish how our current COVID-19-based precautions impact
treatment-related outcomes in patient care.
Other: Telehealth
patients have virtual visits with Radiation Oncology providers in lieu of in person clinic visits as a necessary response to COVID-19
Inclusion Criteria:
• started outpatient radiation therapy with or without concurrent systemic therapy at Duke
Cancer Center during the COVID-19 outbreak
Exclusion Criteria:
- undergoing total body radiation therapy for hematopoetic stem cell transplantation
- undergoing therapy as inpatient
- completed radiation therapy prior to algorithm execution
Duke Cancer Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Manisha Palta, MD, Principal Investigator
Duke Health