Self-Assessment Tool for Oncology Patients

A new software feature makes it possible for cancer patients to enter self-assessment data into their electronic medical record (EMR) for enhanced communication with their oncologists.

The PACE Patient Care Monitor enables patients to enter detailed information on an electronic tablet about how they are feeling when they arrive in the waiting room. The system provides an at-a-glance snapshot of past and current patient symptoms so doctors can plan interventions. In addition, patients can review educational materials on the cancer support network that is also located on the e/Tablet, using their waiting time to access information about cancer diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and emotional wellness.

"The PACE system makes it possible for clinic staff to gather patient information using the time spent waiting to be seen, without committing significant resources for interviewers,” said Maureen Thompson, senior director of a product of Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) oncology information systems. "It captures information that the patient might forget to mention or hesitate to volunteer during their time with the doctor. The guided self-assessment asks about over 40 key symptoms that should be assessed and addressed repeatedly over a course of treatment for cancer.”

By linking this information directly into the Varian ARIA oncology information system, it becomes available as an important source of clinical information about the patient, and it can also be aggregated and mined to identify trends and track the effectiveness of different treatment approaches. The ARIA system can use the data to automatically alert physicians to potential problems or significant changes in a patient's status; trigger alerts that are coupled with recommended interventions; produce graphs and other forms of trend analysis; and develop reports based on patient assessments.

The PACE Patient Care Monitor is a product of Supportive Oncology Services (SOS, Memphis, TN, USA).



Related Links:
Varian Medical Systems
Supportive Oncology Services