TY - JOUR
T1 - Tell Us ™
T2 - A web-based tool for improving communication among patients, families, and providers in hospice and palliative care through systematic data specification, collection, and use
AU - Dy, Sydney M.
AU - Roy, Jayashree
AU - Ott, Geoffrey E.
AU - McHale, Michael
AU - Kennedy, Christine
AU - Kutner, Jean S.
AU - Tien, Allen
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was funded by an SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase I contract from the National Cancer Institute to Medical Decision Logic, Inc™. The authors also acknowledge the contributions of Hospice of the Chesapeake, Hospice of Washington County, and Coastal Hospice, as participants in the software development meetings developing the user stories and assessment tools.
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - Context: Routine electronic patient-reported outcome collection in patients with advanced disease could improve communication among patients, caregivers, and providers, the timeliness of identifying problems, and effectiveness of follow-up. Objectives: To develop a Web-based tool to collect symptoms and needed data and provide feedback to hospice and palliative care patients, caregivers, and providers. Methods: We developed Tell Us ™ based on an existing pure Web technology platform, the Medical Decision Logic, Inc., Health Science Process Framework. The software development process included eliciting information on systems and needs, mapping care processes with three diverse hospices, and soliciting ideas for the software from clinicians and researchers. We developed a prototype software product, incorporated the hospices' processes, assessment questions, and educational materials, and refined the product with feedback from other hospice and palliative care professionals. Results: Tell Us™ includes modules for authoring and deploying clinical queries and completion schedules, for enrolling clinical sites and patients for patients and/or families to complete assigned assessments on a scheduled basis, and for providers to view patient-reported data. Tell Us™ provides customizable automated provider e-mail alerts based on patient responses (such as uncontrolled symptoms or need for medication refills) and provides educational materials targeted to patient needs. Conclusion: This Web-based toolset may be useful for improving communication among hospice and palliative care patients, caregivers, and providers, and proactive patient management. Future research will involve integrating the software into care and evaluating its feasibility and use for data collection, patient education, and improving outcomes.
AB - Context: Routine electronic patient-reported outcome collection in patients with advanced disease could improve communication among patients, caregivers, and providers, the timeliness of identifying problems, and effectiveness of follow-up. Objectives: To develop a Web-based tool to collect symptoms and needed data and provide feedback to hospice and palliative care patients, caregivers, and providers. Methods: We developed Tell Us ™ based on an existing pure Web technology platform, the Medical Decision Logic, Inc., Health Science Process Framework. The software development process included eliciting information on systems and needs, mapping care processes with three diverse hospices, and soliciting ideas for the software from clinicians and researchers. We developed a prototype software product, incorporated the hospices' processes, assessment questions, and educational materials, and refined the product with feedback from other hospice and palliative care professionals. Results: Tell Us™ includes modules for authoring and deploying clinical queries and completion schedules, for enrolling clinical sites and patients for patients and/or families to complete assigned assessments on a scheduled basis, and for providers to view patient-reported data. Tell Us™ provides customizable automated provider e-mail alerts based on patient responses (such as uncontrolled symptoms or need for medication refills) and provides educational materials targeted to patient needs. Conclusion: This Web-based toolset may be useful for improving communication among hospice and palliative care patients, caregivers, and providers, and proactive patient management. Future research will involve integrating the software into care and evaluating its feasibility and use for data collection, patient education, and improving outcomes.
KW - Patient-reported outcomes
KW - flexible Web technology
KW - health science software architecture
KW - hospice
KW - palliative care
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.12.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 21458214
AN - SCOPUS:80053555167
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 42
SP - 526
EP - 534
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
IS - 4
ER -