Christina Chapman and Ted Skolarus are Investigators, and Jennifer Burns is a Data Analyst; all at the Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health Care System in Michigan. Christina Chapman is an Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, and Ted Skolarus is an Associate Professor, Dow Division of Urology Health Services Research, Division of Oncology, Department of Urology, both at the University of Michigan. Correspondence: Ted Skolarus (tskolar@med .umich.edu
References
Conclusion
Most veterans receive guideline concordant PSA surveillance after RT for prostate cancer. Nonetheless, at the beginning of treatment, providers should screen veterans for risk factors for loss to follow-up (eg, care at a different or non-VA facility), discuss geographic, financial, and other barriers, and plan to leverage existing VA resources (eg, travel support) to continue to achieve high-quality PSA surveillance and survivorship care. Future research should investigate ways to take advantage of the VA’s robust electronic health record system and telemedicine infrastructure to further optimize prostate cancer survivorship care and PSA surveillance particularly among vulnerable patient groups and those treated outside of their diagnosing facility.
Acknowledgments Funding Sources: VA HSR&D Career Development Award: 2 (CDA 12−171) and NCI R37 R37CA222885 (TAS).
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 US Government, or any of its agencies.
