Impact of an integrated care program for patients with head and neck cancer on the quality of care

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 31; no. 7; pp. 902 - 910
• Main Authors: Ouwens, Mariëlle M. M. T. J., Hermens, Rosella R. P. M. G., Hulscher, Marlies M. E. J. L., Merkx, Matthias A. W., van den Hoogen, Frank J. A., Grol, Richard P., Wollersheim, Hub C. H., Marres, Henri A. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2009; Wiley
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - organization & administration; disease management; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy; health services research; Humans; indicators; Male; Medical sciences; neoplasms; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Patient Satisfaction; Patient-Centered Care - organization & administration; Process Assessment (Health Care); Program Evaluation; Quality Assurance, Health Care; quality improvement; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Human; Stomatology; ENT; Health service; Malignant tumor; indicators; Indicator; Care; disease management; health services research; Improvement; Treatment; Quality; quality improvement; ENT disease; Head and neck cancer; neoplasms; Cancer
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.21041

Background. The management of patients with head and neck cancer is complex, and implementation of an integrated care program might improve the quality of care. Methods. A prospective before–after study was performed in 1 clinic for head and neck oncology on 311 adults with head and neck cancer to evaluate an integrated care program. Results. Scores on the integrated care indicators showed that the implementation of the integrated care program led to relevant improvements, eg, waiting time for diagnostic procedures less than 10 days (improvement of 37%), support for stopping smoking (+37%), nutrition support (+44%), assessment of CT and MRI scans by a an expert radiologist (+23%), and number of patients in contact with the specialist nurses (+37%). The program had no relevant effects on the outcome indicators. Conclusion. An integrated care program can improve several aspects of the management of patients with head and neck cancer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009