New research led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center could save cancer patients over an hour per visit.
According to a press release, Erin M. Bange, MD, MSCE, lead author of the study “developed a text message-based platform using the Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation’s Way to Health platform to obtain patient reported-symptoms and make sure patients are ready for immunotherapy treatment.” During the trial, participants “receiving single-agent immunotherapy for solid tumor cancers” were separated into two groups: 1) receiving an in-person symptom check prior to their infusion and 2) receiving a symptom check from the text platform.
Patients who were experiencing no symptoms and had normal blood work results were allowed to go straight to immunotherapy, rather than having an in-person visit with their provider. “The 16 patients who were fast-tracked saved more than 60 minutes per visit, including 30 minutes less wait time, than the 15 patients who were randomized to continue with the usual in-person visit.”
Additionally, this new method was determined safe and equal to regular care. The authors hope the text platform will be used as an option for patients who prefer it.
The study is published in NEJM Catalyst.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania release on Newswise
