Optimizing Inpatient Care for Lung Cancer Patients with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor- Related Pneumonitis Using a...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pulmonology
• Clinical Informatics

Background:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (ICI-P) presents a significant mortality risk, demanding rapid diagnosis and treatment.
• Standardized management protocols are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes in ICI-P.

Approach:

• A clinical care pathway algorithm was implemented in two phases to streamline ICI-P management.
• A multi-modal intervention promoted algorithm adoption among healthcare providers.
• Pre- and post-intervention analyses assessed the time from diagnosis to treatment initiation.

Key Points:

• The study involved lung cancer patients with suspected ICI-P, predominantly linked to non-small cell lung cancer and Pembrolizumab use.
• Post-intervention, mean treatment times decreased significantly, particularly after phase 2 (1.27 days).
• Utilization of the immunotoxicity order set increased, and outpatient pulmonology follow-ups improved, indicating enhanced care continuity.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a clinical care pathway algorithm standardizes care for ICI-P.
• This structured approach demonstrably improves patient outcomes and management efficiency.