National Evidence-Based Oncology Navigation Metrics: Multisite Exploratory Study to Demonstrate Value and Sustainability of Navigation Programs

Articles & White Papers published on February 21, 2018 in Standardized Metrics

This project will be conducted by the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) in collaboration with Chartis Oncology Solutions and the American Cancer Society.

Study Overview

The purpose of this multisite exploratory quality study is to (1) assess the reliability and validity of 10 key metrics selected from the list of 35 developed by AONN+, and (2) gain insight into the barriers and challenges navigation programs encounter during the implementation of navigation metrics. Harnessing the power of this information to create best practices will elevate navigation and garner industry support for advancing patient-centered care delivery. This research project is a vital, transforming event in the industry, with the desired outcome of providing validated measures to demonstrate the impact of oncology navigation on quality cancer care delivery, return on investment, patient experience, and program sustainability. To measure, and, subsequently, improve the quality of cancer care, navigation programs must use standardized metrics, focusing on evidence-based practice.

Study Opening Date

March 2018

Study Goals

  • To gain insight and understanding into the barriers and challenges navigation programs encounter during the implementation of navigation metrics
  • To evaluate the validity and readability of the 10 selected navigation metrics

Study Inclusion Criteria

  • Current AONN+ members
  • Participants’ analytic cases are 750 cases or greater
  • Participants with a minimum of 2 navigators within the selected study site
  • Institution or physician practice administrative support
  • Current and active participation in national accreditation programs. Examples include Commission on Cancer ± National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, Quality Oncology Practice Initiative, Merit‑Based Incentive Payment System, and Oncology Care Model

Don’t miss the opportunity to have your institution join this groundbreaking study!

Submit the Letter of Intent

Letter of Intent

AONN+ Standardized Evidence-Based Metrics to Be Collected

DomainMetric
Care Coordination/Care TransitionBarriers to care; measuring the number and list of specific barriers to care identified by navigator per month
Care Coordination/Care Transition Diagnosis to initial treatment; measuring the number of business days from diagnosis (date pathology resulted) to initial treatment modality (date of 1st treatment)
Operations Management/Organizational Development/Health EconomicsNavigation caseload; measuring number of new cases, open cases, and closed cases navigated per month
Operations Management/Organizational Development/Health Economics Measuring the number of navigated patients readmitted to the hospital at 30, 60, and 90 days
Psychosocial Support Services/Assessment Psychosocial distress screening; measuring the number of navigated patients per month who received psychosocial distress screening at a pivotal medical visit using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network distress screening tool
Psychosocial Support Services/Assessment Social support referrals; measuring number of navigated patients referred to support network per month
Survivorship/End of Life Palliative care referral; measuring number of navigated patients per month referred for palliative care
Patient Advocacy/Patient EmpowermentIdentify learning style preference; measuring the number of navigated patients per month whose preferred learning style was discussed during the intake process. The group agreed this should be included if we can identify a validated tool
Professional Roles and ResponsibilitiesNavigation knowledge at time of orientation; measuring percentage of new hires who have completed institutionally developed navigator core competencies
Research/Quality/Performance ImprovementPatient experience/patient satisfaction with care; measuring patient experience or patient satisfaction survey results per month. The group determined use of CCHAPS (Community-wide Children’s Health Assessment & Planning Survey) for measuring patient satisfaction

Qualitative Data

  • Preassessment and postassessment to evaluate each study site’s baseline knowledge about navigation metrics, data collection, and analytics
  • Study site challenges and barriers with metrics implementation and data collection
  • When a challenge/barrier is identified, how the challenge/barrier can be overcome (a mini PDSA cycle)
  • Capture performance improvement enhancements during study period and identify best practices

Quantitative Data

  • NAVmetrics, a cloud-based tool powered by Chartis Oncology Solutions’ ONC iQ® business intelligence product for data capture, management, and reporting of navigation metrics implemented at each study site to collect the 10 navigation metrics

Desired Outcomes

Primary Objectives

  • Implementation and validation of metrics
  • Establishing evidence-based, national standardized navigation benchmarks
  • Navigation research to validate sustainability and value of navigation
  • Identification of navigation outcome measurement best practices and lessons learned
  • Creation of a centralized navigation metrics database and repository

Secondary Objectives

  • Identify clinical and IT challenges and barriers with navigation metrics implementation
  • Identify common barriers and challenges (both individual and system level) to metric measurement and strategies for overcoming those
  • In collaboration with the American Cancer Society develop a Navigation Metrics Implementation Toolkit as an outcome of the study findings

Contact

For questions regarding this study, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..