e19165 Background: Cancer care is complex and requires synthesis of increasing amounts of clinical and financial data to optimize treatment decisions. The heightened differentiation of individual cancers, therapy sequencing, and increasing number of treatment options make it more challenging for oncologists to stay current. A survey showed that 82% of Network providers validated the utility of clinical evidence and decision-making assistance at the point-of-care. Providing education on efficacy, toxicity, and cost in the form of evidence tables (ET) as CDST may assist in value-based decision-making. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed utilization of ET developed to provide clinical and financial data about regimens included within the Value Pathways powered by NCCN. Thirty ET were embedded in the electronic health record (EHR) and posted on our intranet between June-December 2019, covering over 90% of cancers. Utilization was queried from roll out through January 2020. ET include a summary of primary literature (primary/secondary endpoints, adverse events) and monthly Medicare allowable reimbursement rates. ET are updated with each change to pathways and quarterly for cost updates. We also conducted a survey to understand provider ET utilization patterns. Results: Utilization was evaluated for 1,200 physicians across 470 sites that have access to ET. ET have been accessed 1178 times by 586 providers within the EHR and accessed 1363 times by 260 providers via intranet. Our rate of repeat users of the ET is 35% in the EHR and 97% on the intranet. A survey of 200 physicians after ET release showed that 19% of physicians use ET with every new chemotherapy start and an additional 50% refer to ET only if they are uncertain about the best option. Conclusions: Utilization patterns underscore the importance of ET as a CDST within the EHR and on the intranet. While early ET use is high, continued tracking of utilization and addition of content to assist in complex clinical decisions is a priority. Providers surveyed found that clinical informatics tools like ET are useful to enhance decision-making in complex cancer care. [Table: see text]
68 Background: The impact and role of a clinical pharmacist in a community oncology setting is not well-described in the literature. The US Oncology Network recently implemented a central clinical pharmacist review program (ClinReview) to offer oncology remote clinical pharmacist services to practices. Methods: An oncology-trained clinical pharmacist electronically reviewed recently placed or modified chemotherapy regimen orders within a community oncology practice. The ClinReview pharmacist identified opportunities to modify ordered therapy based on clinical components, waste reduction, or financial stewardship. Recommendations were discussed with the treating oncologist at the practice or modified if permitted by approved practice policy. The pharmacist was appointed at 0.5 full-time equivalents (FTE). Financial and workload metrics were tracked to monitor the impact of the pharmacist work. Results: In 10 weeks, 388 reviews were documented and 191 (49.2%) required a modification by the pharmacist. Recommended modifications included dose rounding (n=90, 47%), a clinical change (n=72, 38%), or product substitution (n=29, 15%). The most common clinical changes included modifications to supportive care (n=32, 44%), recommendations for additional monitoring (n=19, 26%), or modifications to anti-cancer medication dose or frequency (n=18, 25%). The financial impact of the pharmacist resulted in margin improvements totaling $106,043 and a $462,305 reduction in the total cost of care in medication expenses (Table). The expense of the pharmacist during this period was $18,095. The return on investment for the pharmacist compared to margin improvement was 590%. Conclusions: An oncology clinical pharmacist is a cost-effective and valuable member of the care team in community oncology practice. The pharmacist identified opportunities to improve medication safety, regimen optimization, and demonstrated significant financial impact for the practice, payers, and patients.[Table: see text]
Tacrolimus-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a potential complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Due to the paucity of information on the management of PRES in HSCT patients receiving tacrolimus, this retrospective review will provide information on trends associated with the incidence of PRES and characterize its management. A retrospective review was conducted of patients receiving tacrolimus for prevention of graft versus host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic HSCT who developed PRES from 2008 to 2010 at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Patients were included if they were receiving tacrolimus at time of PRES diagnosis. Sixteen patients were identified as having PRES. Compared to baseline, patients with PRES were likely to have an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP), weight, and serum creatinine. Elevated tacrolimus levels and hypomagnesemia were not clearly observed with PRES onset. When tacrolimus was held and then restarted either at the same dose or targeting a lower therapeutic level (n = 9), 44% were alive at discharge. Of the patients switched to another agent at time of PRES (n = 2), 50% were alive at discharge. In those patients in which tacrolimus was never held (n = 5), 20% were alive at discharge. The incidence of PRES at our institution from 2008-2010 was 1.1%. A lower chance of survival was observed when tacrolimus was never held during the PRES episode compared to the other management strategies. Associated increases in MAP, weight, and serum creatinine at the time of PRES compared to baseline measurements exemplify the importance of possible prevention through more aggressive blood pressure and fluid management strategies in this patient population.
BK virus infection has been associated with late onset hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after HSCT. Based on data suggesting that cidofovir has activity against BK virus we treated patients with symptomatic HC and high BK virus titers with cidofovir, we now review the outcome of 32 patients undergoing this therapy. The patients studied had undergone allogeneic HSCT for leukemia (28), MDS (1), lymphoma (2), and ovarian cancer (1), and presented with UTI symptoms including (any combination of) hematuria, urgency, and pain, and a high-titer of BK-virus. Patients received treatment with either once weekly (1-5 mg/kg), or divided 3 × weekly/every other day (0.25-0.5 mg/kg/dose). All patients received forced hydration. On the once-weekly schedule 22/23 patients received probenecid and 1/9 in the higher frequency schedule received probenecid. Semi-quantitative BK virus assay was performed prior to and following cidofovir. A total of 32 patients were treated and the median age was 44 years (range, 23-64), with 17 males and 15 females. Donors were related (n=13), unrelated (n=11), haploidentical (n=2), and unrelated cord blood (CB) (n=6). The conditioning regimen was myeloablative in 23 pts (72%) and reduced intensity in 9 pts (28%). 24/32 pts (75%) had developed GVHD and were on steroids when diagnosed with BK-UTI. Cidofovir was well tolerated with no subjects developing renal insufficiency. The majority of symptoms were resolved within 10 days from cidofovir initiation but the limited number of subjects precluded a formal comparison between dosing subgroups (Table 1). The viral load did not change significantly when assessed at a median of 24 days after start of cidofovir (median of ≥3.9 × 107 copies/mL). However, patients who were re-assayed at later time points (median 68 days) had a viral load less than 1% of the initial value (median 4.9×105 copies/mL). We conclude that cidofovir appears promising as treatment for BK-virus related hemorrhagic cystitis. The frequent administration-schedule is relatively easy to administer without the need for probenecid. More data are needed to determine an optimal cidofovir dosing schedule, and optimal time to reassess BK virus load by PCR in allogeneic HSCT patients.Table 1Hemorrhagic cystitis symptom responseHematuriaUrgencyCramp/SpasmPainCBIPre Cidofovir28 (88%)27 (85%)25 (78%)30 (94%)13 (41%)Post Cidofovir6 (18%)9 (28%)1 (3%)9 (28%)1 (3%)CBI=continuous bladder irrigation. Open table in a new tab CBI=continuous bladder irrigation.
Introduction The integration of clinical oncology pharmacists into multidisciplinary healthcare teams is not well-described in the community practice setting. This study aims to analyze the clinical and financial impact of a remote-based clinical oncology pharmacist in four community oncology practices within The US Oncology Network. Methods Oncology-trained clinical pharmacists electronically reviewed chemotherapy orders for clinical optimization and financial stewardship within four community oncology practices. Each pharmacist was appointed at 0.5 full-time equivalents per practice. Financial, clinical, and workload metrics were tracked to monitor the impact of pharmacist engagement. Results Over 12 months, 5716 order reviews were completed with an intervention rate of 57%. The most common interventions identified by the pharmacists were interventions with clinical impact on the patient (36%), followed by dose rounding (35%) and therapeutic interchange (30%). Overall, interventions improved the cumulative practice margins by $1,455,033 and reduced total medication costs by $5,962,551. The average program return on investment was 415% (range 100–915%). Conclusion Community oncology practices seek to provide high-value care in a lean, resource-constrained model. An oncology clinical pharmacist is a cost-effective and clinically invaluable care team member in community oncology practice. Pharmacists in this setting identified opportunities to improve medication safety and regimen optimization and demonstrated a significant tremendous financial impact on small-scale budgets in community oncology.
1503 Background: The Molecularly Informed Lung Cancer Treatment in a Community Cancer Network: A Pragmatic Consortium (MYLUNG) clinical trial platform aims to advance the use of precision medicine in non-small cell lung cancer patients through a series of prospective and iterative clinic trials. “Protocol 2” is evaluating the patient and tissue journey of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients presenting for care. Timely patient accrual to oncology clinical trials is a known practice challenge. The US Oncology Network recently implemented a clinical pharmacist (ClinReview) to provide remote clinical services to support Protocol 2 enrollment. Methods: An oncology-trained clinical pharmacist remotely reviewed chemotherapy regimen orders and a weekly custom recruitment report within six community network practices (n = 149 physicians). The ClinReview pharmacist identified, screened, and assisted with recruitment of eligible patients for enrollment in the MYLUNG study. Relevant and concise patient data were provided to the on-site research team to facilitate ease of enrollment. Enrollments and intervention data were tracked to monitor the impact of the pharmacist intervention. The primary outcome of monthly enrollment was evaluated using a paired t-test. Results: Over a 6-month period, the ClinReview pharmacist screened 367 potentially eligible patients, 325 patients were recommended for enrollment, and 103 patients (32%) were consented and enrolled. Enrollment due to this ClinReview intervention increased monthly and ranged from 5 in first month to 33 enrollments in month 6. Average monthly enrollment was significantly greater after ClinReview intervention (3.4 patients/month vs. 6.8 patients/month; p = 0.008). Of the 154 patients recommended for enrollment that were not enrolled, 104 (68%) exceeded their eligibility window allowed by the trial, 15 (10%) were deceased or enrolled into hospice care, 10 (6%) declined trial participation, and 25 (16%) transferred care or were treated at outside facilities. Conclusions: We demonstrate that incorporation of an oncology clinical pharmacist in clinical research teams significantly enhanced clinical trial enrollment. The remote pharmacist easily adapted into clinic workflows in community practices. Validation across a broader spectrum of differentially resourced oncology practices will be conducted as the MYLUNG clinical trials platform is executed. [Table: see text]
e13572 Background: The US Oncology Network (USON) is made up of over 600 sites of care and treats 1,400,000 patients annually. Drug shortages have a massive impact on patient outcomes, particularly with limited source oncology medications. Proactive mitigation strategies by the national USON Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) committee are examined to assess impact on cisplatin and carboplatin (cis/carbo) shortages, where a phased approach extended supply for patients. Methods: P&T began implementing gradual reductions in cis/carbo allocations in mid-April 2023. This included stewardship to reserve use in patients with limited alternatives, dose rounding, reducing dose/cycle, and extending cycle interval, when clinically appropriate. As supply depletion became imminent, P&T implemented a novel drug ordering process that restricted cis/carbo use criteria to curative intent without alternative treatment options, requiring case-by-case approval. Comprehensive clinical guidance was developed to provide recommendations for alternative therapies. Alternative regimen templates were built into the centrally managed EHR. To evaluate the impact, drug utilization patterns were tracked during the 6-month shortage (April - September 2023) and compared to historical data. Results: Pronounced impacts were seen during acute supply constraints: cisplatin administrations (admins) and mg decreased to 53% and 48% of baseline, carboplatin admins and mg decreased to 84% and 78%. Compared to the prior 6 months, patients receiving cis/carbo was similar pre-shortage (15,368) vs. during (15,296).Mitigation strategies resulted in preservation of cis/carbo admins for diseases with limited alternatives (NSCLC, head & neck, ovarian/uterine); other cancers with alternatives had a decrease in admins (see table). Dose conservation guidance led to a decrease in average mg administered by 5.1% for cisplatin (72.2 vs. 68.5), and 6.2% for carboplatin (385.5 vs. 361.7). New admins of oxaliplatin increased by 11% (4,230 vs 4,714), primarily in GI malignancies. Conclusions: The rigors of stewardship with a phased approach allowed USON to sustain new patients while conserving cis/carbo for those with limited alternatives. Frequent communication about supply status and conservation guidance was critical for transition to alternative treatment strategies. This experience tested USON organizational readiness for future shortages. [Table: see text]
86 Background: Continuing IV chemotherapy (chemo) in patients (pts) with advanced cancer near death does not extend survival or improve quality, but does increase costs. Pathways (PW) programs have compared treatment (tx) costs but have not evaluated the impact on chemo given near death. The primary goal is to evaluate IV chemo administered in the last 14 and 30 days of life in pts treated On vs. Off-PW. Methods: Eligibility: in US Oncology’s (USO) iKnowMed (iKM) EHR 7/1/09-6/30/12; diagnosis (dx) of breast, colon, NSCLC, SCLC or pancreas cancer; >/=3 visits to a USO clinic; assessed for Level I PW compliance in the last 12 mths of life; and a date of death. IV chemo received in the last year of life was assessed. Pts were defined On-PW if all tx was On-PW or if pts did not receive IV chemo 12 mths before death (best supportive care). Pts were Off-PW if any tx received was Off-PW. PW-status, age, sex, dx, and last line of therapy (LOT) received were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess if PW status predicted likelihood of chemo within 14 and 30 days of death. Results: 12,551 pts met inclusion criteria. PW status was independently associated with chemo 14 and 30 days before death. Pts treated Off-PW had 2-fold higher odds of receiving IV chemo within 14, 30 days of death vs. pts treated On-PW (OR: 2; 95% CI: 1.8-2.3, OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 2-2.4), see Table. Findings were similar for each dx. Tx for pts On-PW vs Off-PW showed lower mean last LOT overall (1 vs. 2) and by dx. Conclusions: Pts On-PW were less likely to receive IV chemo within 14 and 30 days of death and had fewer LOT. This suggests adherence to Level I PWs is associated with improved quality metrics. [Table: see text]