Blazing Trails With Research: Paving the Way for Advanced Practice Providers

In September 2021, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) expanded the ability for advanced practice providers (APP) to practice more autonomously by being able to write orders for research-related anti-cancer therapy.

The goal was to align with NCI guidance to permit APPs to independently write non-Cycle 1 Day 1 study agent orders.

An academic institution created a process to comply with the NCI's memorandum. Health-system policy was updated to reflect this new capability. A tracking system was established to monitor NCI's Registration and Credentialing Roster (RCR) expiration dates. An audit process was created to verify alignment between signed electronic research-related anti-cancer therapy orders and Delegation of Tasks Logs.

To date, no adverse comments about APPs' abilities to sign anti-cancer trial orders have been received from organizations that accredit or support clinical trials. In addition, no APPs have lost the ability to sign anti-cancer therapy orders because they failed to renew their RCR within the expiration period. To facilitate this capability in a timely manner, a research-specific onboarding experience was created.

APPs may safely write anti-cancer treatment orders for patients enrolled in clinical trials. Additionally, such privilege may contribute to the enhanced participation of APPs through research.