Evaluation of the Prostate Cancer Molecular Testing Pathway (PCMTP) Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

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Purpose

The PCMTP was developed to provide standardized decision support for molecular testing for veterans with prostate cancer.

Background

Prior to the precision medicine era, molecular tumor testing in prostate cancer was not standard of care. Field practitioners were unfamiliar with the role of molecular testing in clinical care. The PCMTP provides direction for germline and tumor testing in appropriate patients with prostate cancer. The expectation is that at least 80% of veterans will be pathway adherent. The PCMTP is an Oncology Clinical Pathway (OCP) that supports evidence-based practice providing highquality, safe, and cost-effective care for veterans reducing variability of care in the VHA.

Methods

The National Oncology Program Office assembled a Prostate Cancer Team (PCT) to develop OCPs. The pathways were incorporated into note templates that record clinical decisions using text and metadata (Health Factors [HF]), and record pathway adherence for the 4 key nodes of the PCMTP. The templates were pilot-tested and improved using an iterative process over a 3-month period. Further evaluation was conducted by the Office of Human Factors Engineering and the National Clinical Template Workgroup, utilizing a heuristic evaluation to ensure standardization, interoperability, and reduce duplication. HF data were retrieved from the Corporate Data Warehouse using a custom-built dashboard. Descriptive statistics of PCMTP use are presented.

Results

Between 4/1/2021 and 6/22/2022, 6276 health factors were generated from 1707 unique veterans in whom this clinical pathway was accessed. 328 distinct providers participated at 61 sites. Average veteran age was 73 years. (range 45-100) including 42% Black and 56% White. Of 1243 veterans considered for germline testing, 96.6% had germline testing ordered and for 1102 veterans considered for tumor testing, 93.3% had tumor testing ordered.

Conclusions

Pathway adherence exceeded the 80% benchmark. Race representation was diverse and reflective of the VA prostate cancer population. About 46% of VA oncology practices have used the PCMTP for ~11% of the estimated 15,000 veterans with metastatic prostate cancer in VHA. Increased use of this pathway is expected to improve outcomes for veterans with prostate cancer

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Purpose

The PCMTP was developed to provide standardized decision support for molecular testing for veterans with prostate cancer.

Background

Prior to the precision medicine era, molecular tumor testing in prostate cancer was not standard of care. Field practitioners were unfamiliar with the role of molecular testing in clinical care. The PCMTP provides direction for germline and tumor testing in appropriate patients with prostate cancer. The expectation is that at least 80% of veterans will be pathway adherent. The PCMTP is an Oncology Clinical Pathway (OCP) that supports evidence-based practice providing highquality, safe, and cost-effective care for veterans reducing variability of care in the VHA.

Methods

The National Oncology Program Office assembled a Prostate Cancer Team (PCT) to develop OCPs. The pathways were incorporated into note templates that record clinical decisions using text and metadata (Health Factors [HF]), and record pathway adherence for the 4 key nodes of the PCMTP. The templates were pilot-tested and improved using an iterative process over a 3-month period. Further evaluation was conducted by the Office of Human Factors Engineering and the National Clinical Template Workgroup, utilizing a heuristic evaluation to ensure standardization, interoperability, and reduce duplication. HF data were retrieved from the Corporate Data Warehouse using a custom-built dashboard. Descriptive statistics of PCMTP use are presented.

Results

Between 4/1/2021 and 6/22/2022, 6276 health factors were generated from 1707 unique veterans in whom this clinical pathway was accessed. 328 distinct providers participated at 61 sites. Average veteran age was 73 years. (range 45-100) including 42% Black and 56% White. Of 1243 veterans considered for germline testing, 96.6% had germline testing ordered and for 1102 veterans considered for tumor testing, 93.3% had tumor testing ordered.

Conclusions

Pathway adherence exceeded the 80% benchmark. Race representation was diverse and reflective of the VA prostate cancer population. About 46% of VA oncology practices have used the PCMTP for ~11% of the estimated 15,000 veterans with metastatic prostate cancer in VHA. Increased use of this pathway is expected to improve outcomes for veterans with prostate cancer

Purpose

The PCMTP was developed to provide standardized decision support for molecular testing for veterans with prostate cancer.

Background

Prior to the precision medicine era, molecular tumor testing in prostate cancer was not standard of care. Field practitioners were unfamiliar with the role of molecular testing in clinical care. The PCMTP provides direction for germline and tumor testing in appropriate patients with prostate cancer. The expectation is that at least 80% of veterans will be pathway adherent. The PCMTP is an Oncology Clinical Pathway (OCP) that supports evidence-based practice providing highquality, safe, and cost-effective care for veterans reducing variability of care in the VHA.

Methods

The National Oncology Program Office assembled a Prostate Cancer Team (PCT) to develop OCPs. The pathways were incorporated into note templates that record clinical decisions using text and metadata (Health Factors [HF]), and record pathway adherence for the 4 key nodes of the PCMTP. The templates were pilot-tested and improved using an iterative process over a 3-month period. Further evaluation was conducted by the Office of Human Factors Engineering and the National Clinical Template Workgroup, utilizing a heuristic evaluation to ensure standardization, interoperability, and reduce duplication. HF data were retrieved from the Corporate Data Warehouse using a custom-built dashboard. Descriptive statistics of PCMTP use are presented.

Results

Between 4/1/2021 and 6/22/2022, 6276 health factors were generated from 1707 unique veterans in whom this clinical pathway was accessed. 328 distinct providers participated at 61 sites. Average veteran age was 73 years. (range 45-100) including 42% Black and 56% White. Of 1243 veterans considered for germline testing, 96.6% had germline testing ordered and for 1102 veterans considered for tumor testing, 93.3% had tumor testing ordered.

Conclusions

Pathway adherence exceeded the 80% benchmark. Race representation was diverse and reflective of the VA prostate cancer population. About 46% of VA oncology practices have used the PCMTP for ~11% of the estimated 15,000 veterans with metastatic prostate cancer in VHA. Increased use of this pathway is expected to improve outcomes for veterans with prostate cancer

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New Delivery Models Improve Access to Germline Testing for Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Objectives

The VA Oncology Clinical Pathway for Prostate Cancer is the first to include both tumor and germline testing to inform treatment and clinical trial eligibility for advanced disease. Anticipating increased germline testing demand, new germline testing delivery models were created to augment the existing traditional model of referring patients to genetics providers (VA or non-VA) for germline testing. The new models include: a non-traditional model where oncology clinicians perform all pre- and post-test activities and consult genetics when needed, and a hybrid model where oncology clinicians obtain informed consent and place e-consults for germline test ordering, results disclosure, and genetics follow-up, as needed. We sought to assess germline testing by delivery model.

Methods

Data sources included the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) dashboard and NPOP-contracted germline testing laboratories. Patient inclusion criteria: living as of 5/2/2021 with VA oncology or urology visits after 5/2/2021. We used multivariate regression to assess associations between patient characteristics and germline testing between 5/3/2021 (pathway launch) and 5/2/2022, accounting for clustering of patients within ordering clinicians.

Results

We identified 16,041 patients from 129 VA facilities with average age 75 years (SD, 8.2; range, 36- 102), 28.7% Black and 60.0% White. Only 5.6% had germline testing ordered by 60 clinicians at 67 facilities with 52.2% of orders by the hybrid model, 32.1% the non-traditional model, and 15.4% the traditional model. Patient characteristics positively associated with germline testing included care at hybrid model (OR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.62-7.88) or non-traditional model facilities (OR, 5.66; 95% CI, 4.24-7.56) compared to the traditional model, completing tumor molecular testing (OR, 5.80; 95%CI, 4.98-6.75), and Black compared with White race (OR, 1.24; 95%CI, 1.06-1.45). Compared to patients aged < 66 years, patients aged 66-75 years and 76-85 years were less likely to have germline testing (OR, 0.74; 95%CI, 0.60-0.90; and OR, 0.67; 95%CI, 0.53-0.84, respectively).

Conclusions/Implications

Though only a small percentage of patients with advanced prostate cancer had NPOP-supported germline testing since the pathway launch, the new delivery models were instrumental to improving access to germline testing. Ongoing evaluation will help to understand observed demographic differences in germline testing. Implementation and evaluation of strategies that promote adoption of the new germline testing delivery models is needed. 0922FED AVAHO_Abstracts.indd 15 8

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Objectives

The VA Oncology Clinical Pathway for Prostate Cancer is the first to include both tumor and germline testing to inform treatment and clinical trial eligibility for advanced disease. Anticipating increased germline testing demand, new germline testing delivery models were created to augment the existing traditional model of referring patients to genetics providers (VA or non-VA) for germline testing. The new models include: a non-traditional model where oncology clinicians perform all pre- and post-test activities and consult genetics when needed, and a hybrid model where oncology clinicians obtain informed consent and place e-consults for germline test ordering, results disclosure, and genetics follow-up, as needed. We sought to assess germline testing by delivery model.

Methods

Data sources included the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) dashboard and NPOP-contracted germline testing laboratories. Patient inclusion criteria: living as of 5/2/2021 with VA oncology or urology visits after 5/2/2021. We used multivariate regression to assess associations between patient characteristics and germline testing between 5/3/2021 (pathway launch) and 5/2/2022, accounting for clustering of patients within ordering clinicians.

Results

We identified 16,041 patients from 129 VA facilities with average age 75 years (SD, 8.2; range, 36- 102), 28.7% Black and 60.0% White. Only 5.6% had germline testing ordered by 60 clinicians at 67 facilities with 52.2% of orders by the hybrid model, 32.1% the non-traditional model, and 15.4% the traditional model. Patient characteristics positively associated with germline testing included care at hybrid model (OR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.62-7.88) or non-traditional model facilities (OR, 5.66; 95% CI, 4.24-7.56) compared to the traditional model, completing tumor molecular testing (OR, 5.80; 95%CI, 4.98-6.75), and Black compared with White race (OR, 1.24; 95%CI, 1.06-1.45). Compared to patients aged < 66 years, patients aged 66-75 years and 76-85 years were less likely to have germline testing (OR, 0.74; 95%CI, 0.60-0.90; and OR, 0.67; 95%CI, 0.53-0.84, respectively).

Conclusions/Implications

Though only a small percentage of patients with advanced prostate cancer had NPOP-supported germline testing since the pathway launch, the new delivery models were instrumental to improving access to germline testing. Ongoing evaluation will help to understand observed demographic differences in germline testing. Implementation and evaluation of strategies that promote adoption of the new germline testing delivery models is needed. 0922FED AVAHO_Abstracts.indd 15 8

Objectives

The VA Oncology Clinical Pathway for Prostate Cancer is the first to include both tumor and germline testing to inform treatment and clinical trial eligibility for advanced disease. Anticipating increased germline testing demand, new germline testing delivery models were created to augment the existing traditional model of referring patients to genetics providers (VA or non-VA) for germline testing. The new models include: a non-traditional model where oncology clinicians perform all pre- and post-test activities and consult genetics when needed, and a hybrid model where oncology clinicians obtain informed consent and place e-consults for germline test ordering, results disclosure, and genetics follow-up, as needed. We sought to assess germline testing by delivery model.

Methods

Data sources included the National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) dashboard and NPOP-contracted germline testing laboratories. Patient inclusion criteria: living as of 5/2/2021 with VA oncology or urology visits after 5/2/2021. We used multivariate regression to assess associations between patient characteristics and germline testing between 5/3/2021 (pathway launch) and 5/2/2022, accounting for clustering of patients within ordering clinicians.

Results

We identified 16,041 patients from 129 VA facilities with average age 75 years (SD, 8.2; range, 36- 102), 28.7% Black and 60.0% White. Only 5.6% had germline testing ordered by 60 clinicians at 67 facilities with 52.2% of orders by the hybrid model, 32.1% the non-traditional model, and 15.4% the traditional model. Patient characteristics positively associated with germline testing included care at hybrid model (OR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.62-7.88) or non-traditional model facilities (OR, 5.66; 95% CI, 4.24-7.56) compared to the traditional model, completing tumor molecular testing (OR, 5.80; 95%CI, 4.98-6.75), and Black compared with White race (OR, 1.24; 95%CI, 1.06-1.45). Compared to patients aged < 66 years, patients aged 66-75 years and 76-85 years were less likely to have germline testing (OR, 0.74; 95%CI, 0.60-0.90; and OR, 0.67; 95%CI, 0.53-0.84, respectively).

Conclusions/Implications

Though only a small percentage of patients with advanced prostate cancer had NPOP-supported germline testing since the pathway launch, the new delivery models were instrumental to improving access to germline testing. Ongoing evaluation will help to understand observed demographic differences in germline testing. Implementation and evaluation of strategies that promote adoption of the new germline testing delivery models is needed. 0922FED AVAHO_Abstracts.indd 15 8

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