At the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, Illinois, researchers from the VA submitted new abstracts on more than 20 different research projects focused on veteran’s oncology care. The researchers conducted studies with the scope of veteran diagnosis, treatment, and quality of care. The abstracts were presented at the annual ASCO meeting during poster sessions and online.
General Oncology
The Impact of a Veterans Administration NURSE Disease Management Program: the Oncology Aspect
Author(s): George Anthony Dawson, et al.
Background: In an effort to decrease time to diagnosis and/or treatment intervention in newly diagnosed veteran cancer patients, Hudson Valley administrators chose the disease case management team model as a potential useful solution to enhance and / or expedite health care delivery. This disease management program began in 2008. The team consists of 3 registered nurses who work under the auspices of the quality management division rather than a specific oncology clinic. This report will show the clinical impact of Hudson Valley VA’s disease management team.
To read the full abstract click here: http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/161764-176
Implementation of a Nurse Communication Strategy to Improve Perception of Nurse-Patient Communication at the Bedside on an Inpatient Oncology Unit
Author(s): Lyn Cain Zehner, et al.
Background: Patients spend more time with nurses when in the hospital than with any other health care professional. Patient experience scores have been used as a measure of quality patient outcomes. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS) score communication with nurses, correlates with improvements in 4 other dimensions: pain, communication about medications, responsiveness of staff, and overall rating. As patient experience scores are tied to Medicare reimbursement, nurses have an impact on reimbursement. The nurse communication scores on the inpatient 29 bed oncology unit reflected an opportunity for improvement. The purpose of this project was to develop a communication strategy that staff would implement at the bedside. The goal was to achieve an improvement in the HCAHPS Communication with Nurses question.
To read the full abstract click here: http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/166250-176
Modified Ketogenic Diet in Advanced Malignancies–Final Results of a Safety and Feasibility Trial Within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Author(s): Jocelyn Tan-Shalaby, et al.
Final report of a safety and feasibility trial within the Pittsburgh Veteran Affairs HealthCare System- Modified Ketogenic Diet in Advanced Cancer.
Background: Malignant cells have dysfunctional mitochondria, which limit their ability to use energy from fatty acids and ketones. Preclinical animal studies using a ketogenic diet in cancer show encouraging results. The authors tested safety and feasibility of the modified ketogenic diet in a veteran population of advanced cancer patients across a variety of solid tumors.
To read the full abstract click here: http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/170081-176
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