The Task Permanent Point of Contact in a Care Pathway for Patients with Oesophagus and Pancreas Cancer

Abstract

ABSTRACT Title The Task Permanent Point of Contact in a Care Pathway for Patients with Oesophagus and Pancreas Cancer Background Despite of care pathways in cancer care, there are discontinuities in this care. The University Medical Centre Utrecht introduced the task PPC in the care pathway for pa-tients with oesophagus and pancreas in May 2011. By introducing the task Permanent Point of Contact (PPC) the progress of the care process is monitored and patients have a single point of contact. Objectives To evaluate the task PPC in the care pathway for patient with oesophagus and pancreas cancer and thereby providing opportunities for refining and improving the task. In the long run, working with a PPC aims to reduce care discontinuity for cancer patients and improve cancer care. Method A formative evaluation using mixed methods has been conducted. The quantitative part was an analysis of a data file in which PPC’s noted their activities concerning the two element of their task in the period May till November 2011. The qualitative part was support-ive to these finding and consisted of interviews with PPC’s and with other health care workers (HCW’s) to explore their experiences with the task PPC. Results Almost all patients had contact with the PPC and the care process of almost all pa-tients had been guarded. For 72 (89%) patients 232 actions had been performed after con-tact. For 42% of the monitored patients 58 actions had been performed. Time spent per pa-tient is 2.5 hours, per week 7.5 hours. PPC’s and HCW’s find the task useful, not all HCW’s were aware of the existence and possibilities of the PPC. Conclusions The task PPC is feasible to perform. It might be expanded with the possibility to answer care related questions. To determine effectiveness in further research is needed.