Published in:
01-11-2009 | Innovations in Clinical Practice
Establishing a General Medical Outpatient Clinic for Cancer Survivors in a Public City Hospital Setting
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Special Issue 2/2009
Login to get accessABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Many cancer centers and community hospitals are developing novel models of survivorship care. However, few are specifically focused on services for socio-economically disadvantaged cancer survivors.
AIMS
To describe a new model of survivorship care serving culturally diverse, urban adult cancer patients and to present findings from a feasibility evaluation.
SETTING
Adult cancer patients treated at a public city hospital cancer center.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The clinic provides comprehensive medical and psychosocial services for patients within a public hospital cancer center where they receive their oncology care.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Longitudinal data collected over a 3-year period were used to describe patient demographics, patient needs, and services delivered. Since inception, 410 cancer patients have been served. Demand for services has grown steadily. Hypertension was the most frequent comorbid condition treated. Pain, depression, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and bowel dysfunction were the most common post-treatment problems experienced by the patients. Financial counseling was an important patient resource.
DISCUSSION
This new clinical service has been well-integrated into its public urban hospital setting and constitutes an innovative model of health-care delivery for socio-economically challenged, culturally diverse adult cancer survivors.