The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) recently announced that Ochsner Cancer Institute in New Orleans is a recipient of a 2022 ACCC Innovator Award. The award recognizes Ochsner Cancer Institute’s Chemotherapy Care Companion program—a digital technology system that allows the cancer care team to remotely monitor patients who are on intravenous or oral anticancer treatment to manage any symptoms or adverse events between their medical appointments.
By using their smart devices, patients complete a form on their online patient portal app to enroll in the program and are then provided free of charge an iHealth digital scale, blood pressure cuff, and ear thermometer. Twice daily, patients are required to report their weight, temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and any symptoms they may be experiencing and to complete a questionnaire.
Zoe Larned, MD
Any abnormal vitals or questionnaire responses trigger a review by a hematology oncology advanced practice provider, and the Ochsner team intervenes as needed to provide patients with support. With this technology, Ochsner Cancer Institute is keeping patients out of the emergency department or from being hospitalized and improving overall patient satisfaction. “I think this is a worthwhile program,” said Zoe Larned, MD, System Chair of Hematology and Oncology at Ochsner Cancer Institute. “And the expectation among all cancer programs should be to provide this kind of remote monitoring for our patients.” Dr. Larned will speak at the ACCC 39th National Oncology Conference about the successes and challenges of developing and implementing this program. The conference will take place October 12–14 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
About the ACCC Innovator Awards
The ACCC Innovator Awards spotlight forward-thinking ACCC Member Programs that have developed and implemented creative and cost-effective solutions to deliver patient-centered care. ACCC has recognized five winners this year who are solving problems from oral oncolytic tracking and to treatment adherence.
