Harrington Shana E, Stout Nicole L, Perry Ashley W, Manes Mindi R, Alappattu Meryl J, Horn Kailyn
Department of Exercise Science, Physical Therapy Program, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 1300 Wheat Street, Blatt PE Center, 101H, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
Department of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Support Care Cancer. 2025 Apr 5;33(4):357. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09388-8.
A cancer rehabilitation navigation (CRNav) program is an evidence-based care delivery model that uses a rehabilitation professional in the navigation role to support oncology care delivery, provide functional screening for early identification of impairment, and coordinate care delivery services to optimize early rehabilitation. There is limited research showing how a CRNav impacts healthcare utilization. The objective of this study was to assess utilization data for a CRNav Program and demonstrate how the program influences the effectiveness of cancer care delivery and patient and provider satisfaction.
Data was collected from the electronic health record of the Brooks Rehabilitation/Halifax systems at a community cancer center to assess program and service utilization over 3.2 years using a retrospective design.
Over 3.2 years, the CRNav program received 1585 referrals and screened 1447 (91.3%) patients. Of the 1447 screenings performed, 73.6% were recommended to receive outpatient rehabilitation (n = 1065). Among patients screened, breast cancer was the most common cancer diagnosis (47%) followed by head and neck cancers (14%). There were 638 total rehabilitation visits identified for patients who were seen for services within the health system, with physical therapy encounters accounting for the greatest number (n = 462). The most common reasons for receiving physical therapy services included lymphedema (27%), pain (25%), and limited range of motion (12%). Patients reported high satisfaction (≥ 95.4%) in the areas of how well rehabilitation met expectations and overall satisfaction with the rehabilitation experience.
Using a CRNav in a community cancer center resulted in efficient care of patients with cancer, improved patient satisfaction and patient outcomes, and an enhanced clinician experience. This program provides a value-based approach to care supporting the quadruple aim and improving the identification and management of cancer-related functional morbidity.
癌症康复导航（CRNav）项目是一种基于证据的护理提供模式，该模式利用康复专业人员担任导航角色，以支持肿瘤护理的提供，进行功能筛查以早期识别功能障碍，并协调护理服务以优化早期康复。关于CRNav如何影响医疗保健利用的研究有限。本研究的目的是评估CRNav项目的利用数据，并证明该项目如何影响癌症护理的效果以及患者和提供者的满意度。
从社区癌症中心的布鲁克斯康复/哈利法克斯系统的电子健康记录中收集数据，采用回顾性设计评估3.2年期间的项目和服务利用情况。
在3.2年期间，CRNav项目收到1585次转诊，筛查了1447名（91.3%）患者。在进行的1447次筛查中，73.6%的患者被建议接受门诊康复治疗（n = 1065）。在接受筛查的患者中，乳腺癌是最常见的癌症诊断类型（47%），其次是头颈癌（14%）。在卫生系统内接受服务的患者共进行了638次康复就诊，其中物理治疗就诊次数最多（n = 462）。接受物理治疗服务的最常见原因包括淋巴水肿（27%）、疼痛（25%）和活动范围受限（12%）。患者在康复满足期望的程度以及对康复体验的总体满意度方面报告了较高的满意度（≥ 95.4%）。
在社区癌症中心使用CRNav可实现对癌症患者的高效护理，提高患者满意度和患者治疗效果，并提升临床医生的体验。该项目提供了一种基于价值的护理方法，支持四重目标，并改善对癌症相关功能障碍的识别和管理。
