Cancer therapy and heart failure: Successful management through collaborative interdisciplinary practice.

Abstract

123 Background: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical problem of emerging importance in cancer care. The advances in cancer detection and complex treatment regimens have resulted in increased cancer treatment induced HF. The literature indicates that more than 50% of all patients exposed to anthracyclines will show some degree of cardiac dysfunction either acutely or 10 to 20 years after treatment, and 5% of those patients will develop overt HF. Successful management requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss how the “Heart Success Program” (HSP) resulted in cost effective and clinical quality outcomes in patients with cancer and HF. Methods: The HSP was piloted in the emergency center and telemetry units with high volume admission of HF patients. The HSP includes comprehensive education of patients, families, and health care providers regarding HF management in cancer patients. HSP implementation includes a HF order set, patient education booklet, and educational videotape specific for patients with cancer and HF. Weekly interdisciplinary clinical rounds provide a forum for discussion of identified patient’s problems and formulation of solutions. Endpoint outcomes include compliance with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) core measures for HF, as well as decreasing HF readmissions. Results: The pilot implementation of the HSP resulted in decreased hospital length of stay by 57%, and average hospital admission cost by 60%. Despite multiple co morbid conditions, patients were discharged with improved functional status and compliance with CMS HF core measures. Conclusions: The findings from this quality improvement project showed significant impact in clinical and cost outcomes for patients with cancer and HF. The multidisciplinary team approach that provided support to patients and their families and allowed for patients to continue their cancer treatment resulting in improved outcomes. As we move toward value-based purchasing, the HSP provides an example of how collaboration and standardized process improvement impacts cost and quality in the oncology population.