Implementing Electronic Health Record-Embedded Screening for Distress and Health-Related Social Needs in Oncology

Evidence shows that distress and unaddressed health-related social needs (HRSN) negatively affect oncology outcomes.

A quality improvement project team developed a pilot to standardize implementation and capture of distress and HRSN screening embedded in the electronic health record for a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.

The implementation team piloted an electronic health record-embedded tool for distress and HRSN screening and assessed adoption rates at four pilot locations. This article outlines the implementation process for the screening pilot, lessons learned, and recommendations that may guide implementation at other cancer centers.

In total, 383 patients completed the distress survey, and 35 completed the HRSN survey. The majority of patients completed the survey electronically via a patient health portal. Social work and nutrition and resource strain and food insecurity were the two most common positive screens on the distress and the HRSN survey, respectively.