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Prescribing Practices Based on Recommendations of the Veterans Health Administration’s National Precision Oncology Program
Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cancer gene panels is now standard-of-care for patients with advanced solid tumors. In July 2016, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) launched the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) to increase access to NGS testing to VHA cancer patients across the country. A review of the prescription patterns among patients with highly actionable mutations is warranted to measure the impact of NPOP.
Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the use of targeted therapies among patients with advanced solid tumors who received a Level 1, 2A, or R1 recommendation based on NGS results. For cases in which patients failed to receive targeted agents, underlying reasons will be identified. Study results will be used to improve outcomes of veterans undergoing NGS testing and the cost-benefit of NPOP.
Methods: This study will be conducted as a retrospective analysis of veterans who received oncologic care through the VHA and underwent NGS testing. From program inception in July 2016 until January 2019, the tumor samples of 5,897 patients have undergone NGS testing through NPOP. NGS results were categorized by Watson for Genomics (WfG), an artificial intelligence decision-support system. Among these, 608 (10.3%) samples noted to have at least one genetic variant with Level 1 or 2A actionability. The NPOP database will be queried to identify these patients who had a recommendation to receive a targeted agent. Prescribed and dispensed drugs will be identified from the Corporate Data Warehouse to indicate patients who have received targeted agents through VHA and compute the percentage of those who were not prescribed therapy through VHA. The medical records of patients who did not receive a corresponding targeted drug will be reviewed to identify non-VA drug use and code reasons if no record of drug administration is recorded. These codes will be examined for association with patients and tumor characteristics, sites of treating oncologists, and types of cancers. The most frequent coded reasons will be recorded, and assessment of this data will be performed to identify potential interventions to improve the utility of NGS testing for veterans.
Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cancer gene panels is now standard-of-care for patients with advanced solid tumors. In July 2016, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) launched the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) to increase access to NGS testing to VHA cancer patients across the country. A review of the prescription patterns among patients with highly actionable mutations is warranted to measure the impact of NPOP.
Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the use of targeted therapies among patients with advanced solid tumors who received a Level 1, 2A, or R1 recommendation based on NGS results. For cases in which patients failed to receive targeted agents, underlying reasons will be identified. Study results will be used to improve outcomes of veterans undergoing NGS testing and the cost-benefit of NPOP.
Methods: This study will be conducted as a retrospective analysis of veterans who received oncologic care through the VHA and underwent NGS testing. From program inception in July 2016 until January 2019, the tumor samples of 5,897 patients have undergone NGS testing through NPOP. NGS results were categorized by Watson for Genomics (WfG), an artificial intelligence decision-support system. Among these, 608 (10.3%) samples noted to have at least one genetic variant with Level 1 or 2A actionability. The NPOP database will be queried to identify these patients who had a recommendation to receive a targeted agent. Prescribed and dispensed drugs will be identified from the Corporate Data Warehouse to indicate patients who have received targeted agents through VHA and compute the percentage of those who were not prescribed therapy through VHA. The medical records of patients who did not receive a corresponding targeted drug will be reviewed to identify non-VA drug use and code reasons if no record of drug administration is recorded. These codes will be examined for association with patients and tumor characteristics, sites of treating oncologists, and types of cancers. The most frequent coded reasons will be recorded, and assessment of this data will be performed to identify potential interventions to improve the utility of NGS testing for veterans.
Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cancer gene panels is now standard-of-care for patients with advanced solid tumors. In July 2016, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) launched the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) to increase access to NGS testing to VHA cancer patients across the country. A review of the prescription patterns among patients with highly actionable mutations is warranted to measure the impact of NPOP.
Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the use of targeted therapies among patients with advanced solid tumors who received a Level 1, 2A, or R1 recommendation based on NGS results. For cases in which patients failed to receive targeted agents, underlying reasons will be identified. Study results will be used to improve outcomes of veterans undergoing NGS testing and the cost-benefit of NPOP.
Methods: This study will be conducted as a retrospective analysis of veterans who received oncologic care through the VHA and underwent NGS testing. From program inception in July 2016 until January 2019, the tumor samples of 5,897 patients have undergone NGS testing through NPOP. NGS results were categorized by Watson for Genomics (WfG), an artificial intelligence decision-support system. Among these, 608 (10.3%) samples noted to have at least one genetic variant with Level 1 or 2A actionability. The NPOP database will be queried to identify these patients who had a recommendation to receive a targeted agent. Prescribed and dispensed drugs will be identified from the Corporate Data Warehouse to indicate patients who have received targeted agents through VHA and compute the percentage of those who were not prescribed therapy through VHA. The medical records of patients who did not receive a corresponding targeted drug will be reviewed to identify non-VA drug use and code reasons if no record of drug administration is recorded. These codes will be examined for association with patients and tumor characteristics, sites of treating oncologists, and types of cancers. The most frequent coded reasons will be recorded, and assessment of this data will be performed to identify potential interventions to improve the utility of NGS testing for veterans.
VHA-Wide Automated Assessment of EGFR Mutation Testing in Advanced Stage, Non-Squamous, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (nsNSCLC)
Purpose: To assess feasibility of implementing an automated method to identify patients who should have EGFR testing, and whether they have been tested, as a tool for quality improvement.
Background: Approximately 7% of veterans with metastatic, nsNSCLC have sensitizing mutation of EGFR, which predicts sensitivity to oral EGFR inhibitors. Prior studies have shown under testing for EGFR mutations in this population in VHA.
Methods: An endorsed quality measure (NQF and ASCO) for EGFR testing was utilized. Data to implement the measure were extracted from the cancer registry (ONC RAW), problem and encounter ICD codes, national oncology note template-generated health factors, laboratory test results, National Precision Oncology Program NGS testing, vital status, and pharmacy drug file to populate a SQL database. A dashboard in SharePoint allowed users to retrieve data based on national data access permissions. Descriptive statistics were used.
Results: The initial algorithm implementation was evaluated by comparison to manual review of patient records from one medical center. The second generation algorithm was then evaluated in the same manner at a second medical center (MC2). Among 117 cases identified during 2018, 68 (58%) were identified as having been tested and 49 (42%) not tested (31 living and 18 deceased patients). 48 of the non-tested samples were reviewed: 28 had not been tested, 14 had data documentation or coding problems (11 correctable by using the national note template), 1 correctable limitation of the national note template, and 5 limitations of the algorithm (all but 1 of which has been corrected). For stage 3 and stage VA-wide, there were 871 and 2832 cases, respectively, with documented testing rates of 26% and 36%, and a facility testing rate range of 0% to 100%.
Implications: The EGFR testing dashboard, in conjunction with appropriate structured documentation, has high accuracy of EGFR testing in patients with metastatic nsNSCLC. Current documented testing rates vary widely with a low system-wide rate, that can be improved through utilization of the dashboard.
Purpose: To assess feasibility of implementing an automated method to identify patients who should have EGFR testing, and whether they have been tested, as a tool for quality improvement.
Background: Approximately 7% of veterans with metastatic, nsNSCLC have sensitizing mutation of EGFR, which predicts sensitivity to oral EGFR inhibitors. Prior studies have shown under testing for EGFR mutations in this population in VHA.
Methods: An endorsed quality measure (NQF and ASCO) for EGFR testing was utilized. Data to implement the measure were extracted from the cancer registry (ONC RAW), problem and encounter ICD codes, national oncology note template-generated health factors, laboratory test results, National Precision Oncology Program NGS testing, vital status, and pharmacy drug file to populate a SQL database. A dashboard in SharePoint allowed users to retrieve data based on national data access permissions. Descriptive statistics were used.
Results: The initial algorithm implementation was evaluated by comparison to manual review of patient records from one medical center. The second generation algorithm was then evaluated in the same manner at a second medical center (MC2). Among 117 cases identified during 2018, 68 (58%) were identified as having been tested and 49 (42%) not tested (31 living and 18 deceased patients). 48 of the non-tested samples were reviewed: 28 had not been tested, 14 had data documentation or coding problems (11 correctable by using the national note template), 1 correctable limitation of the national note template, and 5 limitations of the algorithm (all but 1 of which has been corrected). For stage 3 and stage VA-wide, there were 871 and 2832 cases, respectively, with documented testing rates of 26% and 36%, and a facility testing rate range of 0% to 100%.
Implications: The EGFR testing dashboard, in conjunction with appropriate structured documentation, has high accuracy of EGFR testing in patients with metastatic nsNSCLC. Current documented testing rates vary widely with a low system-wide rate, that can be improved through utilization of the dashboard.
Purpose: To assess feasibility of implementing an automated method to identify patients who should have EGFR testing, and whether they have been tested, as a tool for quality improvement.
Background: Approximately 7% of veterans with metastatic, nsNSCLC have sensitizing mutation of EGFR, which predicts sensitivity to oral EGFR inhibitors. Prior studies have shown under testing for EGFR mutations in this population in VHA.
Methods: An endorsed quality measure (NQF and ASCO) for EGFR testing was utilized. Data to implement the measure were extracted from the cancer registry (ONC RAW), problem and encounter ICD codes, national oncology note template-generated health factors, laboratory test results, National Precision Oncology Program NGS testing, vital status, and pharmacy drug file to populate a SQL database. A dashboard in SharePoint allowed users to retrieve data based on national data access permissions. Descriptive statistics were used.
Results: The initial algorithm implementation was evaluated by comparison to manual review of patient records from one medical center. The second generation algorithm was then evaluated in the same manner at a second medical center (MC2). Among 117 cases identified during 2018, 68 (58%) were identified as having been tested and 49 (42%) not tested (31 living and 18 deceased patients). 48 of the non-tested samples were reviewed: 28 had not been tested, 14 had data documentation or coding problems (11 correctable by using the national note template), 1 correctable limitation of the national note template, and 5 limitations of the algorithm (all but 1 of which has been corrected). For stage 3 and stage VA-wide, there were 871 and 2832 cases, respectively, with documented testing rates of 26% and 36%, and a facility testing rate range of 0% to 100%.
Implications: The EGFR testing dashboard, in conjunction with appropriate structured documentation, has high accuracy of EGFR testing in patients with metastatic nsNSCLC. Current documented testing rates vary widely with a low system-wide rate, that can be improved through utilization of the dashboard.
The Current State of VHA’s National Precision Oncology Program
Purpose: To inform VA stakeholders of the availability of Precision Oncology (PO) services for Veterans with advanced cancer.
Background: PO offers the promise of effective, lowtoxicity targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor genomics but is unequally available within VHA. A system-wide National PO Program (NPOP) including patients in rural areas launched in July 2016.
Methods: Patients tested with multigene next generation sequencing (NGS) tumor testing through 2 contracted vendors were identified from NPOP records and cancer characteristics were extracted from NPOP and medical records. Drug use data was obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. NGS testing results and annotations were extracted from NPOP records.
Results: In all, 3,981 samples have been sent for NGS sequencing via NPOP. 3,036 samples were sequenced successfully and 597 failed (83.57% successful). Of the successful samples, 99 are liquid biopsies and 2,880 have Watson for Genomics treatment recommendations. Utilization of NPOP services has increased across VHA since the national rollout, from 4 participating facilities in NPOP’s first quarter (Q4 2016) to 51 facilities last quarter (Q3 2018). Average samples sent per month in 2018 is 182, up from 105 in 2017. Despite these increases, NGS testing is not yet systematically utilized at all participating facilities and 79 facilities did not participate last quarter. NPOP is servicing a large rural population (34% rural), which is similar to that of all VHA patients (33%) and more than twice the national rate (14%). The top diagnoses were lung (1,333: 917 adeno, 283 squamous, 133 non-small cell), colorectal (307), prostate (297), skin (154) and head and neck (75). 158 patients have been prescribed 225 of the recommended treatments before (130) and after (95) the NGS results date.
Conclusions: Utilization of NGS testing in the VHA population has grown significantly over the past year throughout most of the country. The higher volume has been facilitated through improvements in NPOP’s data infrastructure. Additional VHA patients can benefit from NGS gene panel testing to guide therapeutic decisionmaking.
Purpose: To inform VA stakeholders of the availability of Precision Oncology (PO) services for Veterans with advanced cancer.
Background: PO offers the promise of effective, lowtoxicity targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor genomics but is unequally available within VHA. A system-wide National PO Program (NPOP) including patients in rural areas launched in July 2016.
Methods: Patients tested with multigene next generation sequencing (NGS) tumor testing through 2 contracted vendors were identified from NPOP records and cancer characteristics were extracted from NPOP and medical records. Drug use data was obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. NGS testing results and annotations were extracted from NPOP records.
Results: In all, 3,981 samples have been sent for NGS sequencing via NPOP. 3,036 samples were sequenced successfully and 597 failed (83.57% successful). Of the successful samples, 99 are liquid biopsies and 2,880 have Watson for Genomics treatment recommendations. Utilization of NPOP services has increased across VHA since the national rollout, from 4 participating facilities in NPOP’s first quarter (Q4 2016) to 51 facilities last quarter (Q3 2018). Average samples sent per month in 2018 is 182, up from 105 in 2017. Despite these increases, NGS testing is not yet systematically utilized at all participating facilities and 79 facilities did not participate last quarter. NPOP is servicing a large rural population (34% rural), which is similar to that of all VHA patients (33%) and more than twice the national rate (14%). The top diagnoses were lung (1,333: 917 adeno, 283 squamous, 133 non-small cell), colorectal (307), prostate (297), skin (154) and head and neck (75). 158 patients have been prescribed 225 of the recommended treatments before (130) and after (95) the NGS results date.
Conclusions: Utilization of NGS testing in the VHA population has grown significantly over the past year throughout most of the country. The higher volume has been facilitated through improvements in NPOP’s data infrastructure. Additional VHA patients can benefit from NGS gene panel testing to guide therapeutic decisionmaking.
Purpose: To inform VA stakeholders of the availability of Precision Oncology (PO) services for Veterans with advanced cancer.
Background: PO offers the promise of effective, lowtoxicity targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor genomics but is unequally available within VHA. A system-wide National PO Program (NPOP) including patients in rural areas launched in July 2016.
Methods: Patients tested with multigene next generation sequencing (NGS) tumor testing through 2 contracted vendors were identified from NPOP records and cancer characteristics were extracted from NPOP and medical records. Drug use data was obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. NGS testing results and annotations were extracted from NPOP records.
Results: In all, 3,981 samples have been sent for NGS sequencing via NPOP. 3,036 samples were sequenced successfully and 597 failed (83.57% successful). Of the successful samples, 99 are liquid biopsies and 2,880 have Watson for Genomics treatment recommendations. Utilization of NPOP services has increased across VHA since the national rollout, from 4 participating facilities in NPOP’s first quarter (Q4 2016) to 51 facilities last quarter (Q3 2018). Average samples sent per month in 2018 is 182, up from 105 in 2017. Despite these increases, NGS testing is not yet systematically utilized at all participating facilities and 79 facilities did not participate last quarter. NPOP is servicing a large rural population (34% rural), which is similar to that of all VHA patients (33%) and more than twice the national rate (14%). The top diagnoses were lung (1,333: 917 adeno, 283 squamous, 133 non-small cell), colorectal (307), prostate (297), skin (154) and head and neck (75). 158 patients have been prescribed 225 of the recommended treatments before (130) and after (95) the NGS results date.
Conclusions: Utilization of NGS testing in the VHA population has grown significantly over the past year throughout most of the country. The higher volume has been facilitated through improvements in NPOP’s data infrastructure. Additional VHA patients can benefit from NGS gene panel testing to guide therapeutic decisionmaking.
Evaluation of Implementation of Tumor Next-Generation Sequencing Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Background: Routine use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel testing is now widely adopted for therapeutic decision-making in patients with advanced solid malignancies. The VA National Precision Oncology Program was launched in 2016 to standardize and facilitate the adoption of NGS testing within VHA. As part of the 2016 Cancer Moonshot initiative, VHA began using IBM Watson for Genomics (WfG) to assist with annotation of NGS results.
Purpose/Rationale: The primary objective of this program evaluation is to investigate the impact of NGS testing and WfG annotation on therapeutic decision-making by VA providers. Secondary objectives will include assessing the efficiency and efficacy of precision oncology, the attitudes of patients and providers towards the process, and the cost-effectiveness of these techniques.
Methods: Evaluation will be performed as a mixed-methods study using a combination of provider survey and retrospective analysis of veterans who received their oncologic care through VHA and underwent NGS testing. We will review health records from approximately 150 patients who underwent NGS testing and review via expert “precision oncology consultation,” as well as a sampling of 150 patients who underwent NGS testing alone. We will query the medical record to identify the timing of testing and reporting of results to the ordering providers. Changes in provider decision-making based on NGS results/consultation will be directly assessed by reviewing the medical record for proposed therapy prior to testing/consultation in addition to pharmacy data for choice of therapeutic agent following formal reporting of NGS results. Survey data will be used to evaluate physician attitudes towards NGS testing, reasons for seeking expert consultation, as well as satisfaction with the overall process. We will identify and implement prospective methods of data collection for future NGS testing and “precision oncology consultation”, including common criteria for consultation and proposed decision-making before and after testing/consultation. Further outcome assessments will convey the financial toxicity of the treatment changes and the impact on patient outcomes.
Background: Routine use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel testing is now widely adopted for therapeutic decision-making in patients with advanced solid malignancies. The VA National Precision Oncology Program was launched in 2016 to standardize and facilitate the adoption of NGS testing within VHA. As part of the 2016 Cancer Moonshot initiative, VHA began using IBM Watson for Genomics (WfG) to assist with annotation of NGS results.
Purpose/Rationale: The primary objective of this program evaluation is to investigate the impact of NGS testing and WfG annotation on therapeutic decision-making by VA providers. Secondary objectives will include assessing the efficiency and efficacy of precision oncology, the attitudes of patients and providers towards the process, and the cost-effectiveness of these techniques.
Methods: Evaluation will be performed as a mixed-methods study using a combination of provider survey and retrospective analysis of veterans who received their oncologic care through VHA and underwent NGS testing. We will review health records from approximately 150 patients who underwent NGS testing and review via expert “precision oncology consultation,” as well as a sampling of 150 patients who underwent NGS testing alone. We will query the medical record to identify the timing of testing and reporting of results to the ordering providers. Changes in provider decision-making based on NGS results/consultation will be directly assessed by reviewing the medical record for proposed therapy prior to testing/consultation in addition to pharmacy data for choice of therapeutic agent following formal reporting of NGS results. Survey data will be used to evaluate physician attitudes towards NGS testing, reasons for seeking expert consultation, as well as satisfaction with the overall process. We will identify and implement prospective methods of data collection for future NGS testing and “precision oncology consultation”, including common criteria for consultation and proposed decision-making before and after testing/consultation. Further outcome assessments will convey the financial toxicity of the treatment changes and the impact on patient outcomes.
Background: Routine use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel testing is now widely adopted for therapeutic decision-making in patients with advanced solid malignancies. The VA National Precision Oncology Program was launched in 2016 to standardize and facilitate the adoption of NGS testing within VHA. As part of the 2016 Cancer Moonshot initiative, VHA began using IBM Watson for Genomics (WfG) to assist with annotation of NGS results.
Purpose/Rationale: The primary objective of this program evaluation is to investigate the impact of NGS testing and WfG annotation on therapeutic decision-making by VA providers. Secondary objectives will include assessing the efficiency and efficacy of precision oncology, the attitudes of patients and providers towards the process, and the cost-effectiveness of these techniques.
Methods: Evaluation will be performed as a mixed-methods study using a combination of provider survey and retrospective analysis of veterans who received their oncologic care through VHA and underwent NGS testing. We will review health records from approximately 150 patients who underwent NGS testing and review via expert “precision oncology consultation,” as well as a sampling of 150 patients who underwent NGS testing alone. We will query the medical record to identify the timing of testing and reporting of results to the ordering providers. Changes in provider decision-making based on NGS results/consultation will be directly assessed by reviewing the medical record for proposed therapy prior to testing/consultation in addition to pharmacy data for choice of therapeutic agent following formal reporting of NGS results. Survey data will be used to evaluate physician attitudes towards NGS testing, reasons for seeking expert consultation, as well as satisfaction with the overall process. We will identify and implement prospective methods of data collection for future NGS testing and “precision oncology consultation”, including common criteria for consultation and proposed decision-making before and after testing/consultation. Further outcome assessments will convey the financial toxicity of the treatment changes and the impact on patient outcomes.
Structuring Data to Automate Cancer Survivorship Care Plans
Purpose: To provide reusable data to facilitate standardized oncology care documentation in CPRS for survivorship care plans (SCP) and other notes.
Background: SCP are guideline-recommended documents to engage patients in their post-treatment care. Creating a SCP manually by reviewing progress notes and redocumenting this information in a survivorship care plan is time consuming and tedious, which reduces completion rates and accuracy. The National Oncology Program office seeks to provide automated tools for VA facilities and providers to create SCPs that are timely, accurate, readily available and easily updated. SCPs created with structured data also allow for tracking of delivery of planned care.
Methods: Sixteen reminder note templates were developed that included SCPs for breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers. Content for the SCP are based on Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards and determined by evidence-based quality measures from ASCO QOPI standards.
Each template has embedded patient data objects (health factors) that display previously entered information, eliminating the need for provider review of prior records. Updates to the SCP are accomplished by relaunching the SCP note template to import new health factor data. Health factor data were extracted from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse.
Results: All of the reminder dialogs have undergone formal usability testing. Changes were made to the reminder dialogs based upon this feedback. Several sections in the SCPs were made ‘local’ so that VA facilities can make edits, which reduces end-user data entry. The reminder dialogs were released nationally in April 2017, and their use to create SCPs has been endorsed by the CoC. As of June 2017, 2,775 health factors were generated on 458 patients,
and 58 SCPs have been completed.
Conclusions: Using patient data objects in progress notes offers a tool for oncology providers to use that can autocreate SCPs. Additional SCP are planned for H&N, liver, melanoma and hematological malignancies. Using patient data elements in CPRS identified by clinicians at the time
of care delivery allows core components of patient care to be structured and reused to greatly facilitate completion of SCPs.
Purpose: To provide reusable data to facilitate standardized oncology care documentation in CPRS for survivorship care plans (SCP) and other notes.
Background: SCP are guideline-recommended documents to engage patients in their post-treatment care. Creating a SCP manually by reviewing progress notes and redocumenting this information in a survivorship care plan is time consuming and tedious, which reduces completion rates and accuracy. The National Oncology Program office seeks to provide automated tools for VA facilities and providers to create SCPs that are timely, accurate, readily available and easily updated. SCPs created with structured data also allow for tracking of delivery of planned care.
Methods: Sixteen reminder note templates were developed that included SCPs for breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers. Content for the SCP are based on Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards and determined by evidence-based quality measures from ASCO QOPI standards.
Each template has embedded patient data objects (health factors) that display previously entered information, eliminating the need for provider review of prior records. Updates to the SCP are accomplished by relaunching the SCP note template to import new health factor data. Health factor data were extracted from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse.
Results: All of the reminder dialogs have undergone formal usability testing. Changes were made to the reminder dialogs based upon this feedback. Several sections in the SCPs were made ‘local’ so that VA facilities can make edits, which reduces end-user data entry. The reminder dialogs were released nationally in April 2017, and their use to create SCPs has been endorsed by the CoC. As of June 2017, 2,775 health factors were generated on 458 patients,
and 58 SCPs have been completed.
Conclusions: Using patient data objects in progress notes offers a tool for oncology providers to use that can autocreate SCPs. Additional SCP are planned for H&N, liver, melanoma and hematological malignancies. Using patient data elements in CPRS identified by clinicians at the time
of care delivery allows core components of patient care to be structured and reused to greatly facilitate completion of SCPs.
Purpose: To provide reusable data to facilitate standardized oncology care documentation in CPRS for survivorship care plans (SCP) and other notes.
Background: SCP are guideline-recommended documents to engage patients in their post-treatment care. Creating a SCP manually by reviewing progress notes and redocumenting this information in a survivorship care plan is time consuming and tedious, which reduces completion rates and accuracy. The National Oncology Program office seeks to provide automated tools for VA facilities and providers to create SCPs that are timely, accurate, readily available and easily updated. SCPs created with structured data also allow for tracking of delivery of planned care.
Methods: Sixteen reminder note templates were developed that included SCPs for breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers. Content for the SCP are based on Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards and determined by evidence-based quality measures from ASCO QOPI standards.
Each template has embedded patient data objects (health factors) that display previously entered information, eliminating the need for provider review of prior records. Updates to the SCP are accomplished by relaunching the SCP note template to import new health factor data. Health factor data were extracted from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse.
Results: All of the reminder dialogs have undergone formal usability testing. Changes were made to the reminder dialogs based upon this feedback. Several sections in the SCPs were made ‘local’ so that VA facilities can make edits, which reduces end-user data entry. The reminder dialogs were released nationally in April 2017, and their use to create SCPs has been endorsed by the CoC. As of June 2017, 2,775 health factors were generated on 458 patients,
and 58 SCPs have been completed.
Conclusions: Using patient data objects in progress notes offers a tool for oncology providers to use that can autocreate SCPs. Additional SCP are planned for H&N, liver, melanoma and hematological malignancies. Using patient data elements in CPRS identified by clinicians at the time
of care delivery allows core components of patient care to be structured and reused to greatly facilitate completion of SCPs.
Update on the VA Precision Oncology Program
Purpose: To inform VA stakeholders of the availability of precision oncology (PO) services for Veterans with advanced cancer.
Background: PO offers the promise of effective, low-toxicity targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor genomics but is unequally available within VHA. A systemwide PO program (POP), including patients in rural areas, launched in July 2016.
Methods: Patients tested with multigene next generation sequencing (NGS) tumor testing through 2 contracted vendors were identified from POP records and cancer characteristics were extracted from POP and medical records. Drug use data were obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. NGS testing results, and annotations were extracted from POP records.
Results: 1,442 tumor samples were sent for NGS testing as of 5/21/17 from 61 facilities. Rural patient testing (35%) was similar to VHA rurality (33%) and more than twice the US rate (14%). Most common diagnoses: lung (688: adeno 482, squamous 134), unknown (114), colorectal (103), skin (96), prostate (76), and H&N (66). Sample test requests increased rapidly after national implementation in July 2016 (23 samples/month prior to implementation to mean 126 samples/month 3 months later) as did the number of participating facilities (10/quarter to 39/month). Sequencing success rate increased from 68% to 71% over the same interval, while mean turn around time remained similar at 19.7 and 19.1 days, respectively. To date, 26 patients received a recommended drug outside a clinical trial, some more than 9 months after NGS. 5 additional patients had received an NGS-recommended drug prior to testing. NGS results are available for a cohort of 344 patients including: lung 200 (adeno 138, squamous 51), skin 28, LN 20, liver 19, GI 16. 979 variants were found most commonly in TP53, KRAS, STK11, APC, PIK3CA, and CDKN2A. 228 patients (66%) had actionable results (on-label drug 24, off-label drug 165, clinical trial 213). A PO consultation service (available by IFC) and a liquid biopsy are now available nationally.
Conclusions: Implementation of tumor NGS testing in VHA has been successful. Further program expansion, addition of hematological malignancies, deployment of informatics tools and efforts to expand access to appropriate drugs are ongoing.
Purpose: To inform VA stakeholders of the availability of precision oncology (PO) services for Veterans with advanced cancer.
Background: PO offers the promise of effective, low-toxicity targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor genomics but is unequally available within VHA. A systemwide PO program (POP), including patients in rural areas, launched in July 2016.
Methods: Patients tested with multigene next generation sequencing (NGS) tumor testing through 2 contracted vendors were identified from POP records and cancer characteristics were extracted from POP and medical records. Drug use data were obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. NGS testing results, and annotations were extracted from POP records.
Results: 1,442 tumor samples were sent for NGS testing as of 5/21/17 from 61 facilities. Rural patient testing (35%) was similar to VHA rurality (33%) and more than twice the US rate (14%). Most common diagnoses: lung (688: adeno 482, squamous 134), unknown (114), colorectal (103), skin (96), prostate (76), and H&N (66). Sample test requests increased rapidly after national implementation in July 2016 (23 samples/month prior to implementation to mean 126 samples/month 3 months later) as did the number of participating facilities (10/quarter to 39/month). Sequencing success rate increased from 68% to 71% over the same interval, while mean turn around time remained similar at 19.7 and 19.1 days, respectively. To date, 26 patients received a recommended drug outside a clinical trial, some more than 9 months after NGS. 5 additional patients had received an NGS-recommended drug prior to testing. NGS results are available for a cohort of 344 patients including: lung 200 (adeno 138, squamous 51), skin 28, LN 20, liver 19, GI 16. 979 variants were found most commonly in TP53, KRAS, STK11, APC, PIK3CA, and CDKN2A. 228 patients (66%) had actionable results (on-label drug 24, off-label drug 165, clinical trial 213). A PO consultation service (available by IFC) and a liquid biopsy are now available nationally.
Conclusions: Implementation of tumor NGS testing in VHA has been successful. Further program expansion, addition of hematological malignancies, deployment of informatics tools and efforts to expand access to appropriate drugs are ongoing.
Purpose: To inform VA stakeholders of the availability of precision oncology (PO) services for Veterans with advanced cancer.
Background: PO offers the promise of effective, low-toxicity targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor genomics but is unequally available within VHA. A systemwide PO program (POP), including patients in rural areas, launched in July 2016.
Methods: Patients tested with multigene next generation sequencing (NGS) tumor testing through 2 contracted vendors were identified from POP records and cancer characteristics were extracted from POP and medical records. Drug use data were obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. NGS testing results, and annotations were extracted from POP records.
Results: 1,442 tumor samples were sent for NGS testing as of 5/21/17 from 61 facilities. Rural patient testing (35%) was similar to VHA rurality (33%) and more than twice the US rate (14%). Most common diagnoses: lung (688: adeno 482, squamous 134), unknown (114), colorectal (103), skin (96), prostate (76), and H&N (66). Sample test requests increased rapidly after national implementation in July 2016 (23 samples/month prior to implementation to mean 126 samples/month 3 months later) as did the number of participating facilities (10/quarter to 39/month). Sequencing success rate increased from 68% to 71% over the same interval, while mean turn around time remained similar at 19.7 and 19.1 days, respectively. To date, 26 patients received a recommended drug outside a clinical trial, some more than 9 months after NGS. 5 additional patients had received an NGS-recommended drug prior to testing. NGS results are available for a cohort of 344 patients including: lung 200 (adeno 138, squamous 51), skin 28, LN 20, liver 19, GI 16. 979 variants were found most commonly in TP53, KRAS, STK11, APC, PIK3CA, and CDKN2A. 228 patients (66%) had actionable results (on-label drug 24, off-label drug 165, clinical trial 213). A PO consultation service (available by IFC) and a liquid biopsy are now available nationally.
Conclusions: Implementation of tumor NGS testing in VHA has been successful. Further program expansion, addition of hematological malignancies, deployment of informatics tools and efforts to expand access to appropriate drugs are ongoing.