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Telephone prescreening enhancing a model for proactive healthcare practice
1Department of Social Work, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
Cancer Practice
|October 10, 1998
Summary
Telephone prescreening enhances psychosocial care for new cancer patients by providing personalized assessments and improving clinic efficiency. This innovative approach empowers patients and healthcare teams in managed care settings.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Healthcare Management
- Social Work
Background:
- Psychosocial care is integral to cancer patient support.
- Existing models can be enhanced for efficiency and personalization.
- Early intervention improves patient and provider experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement a telephone prescreening program for newly diagnosed cancer patients.
- To integrate psychosocial assessment into early stages of cancer care.
- To improve the efficiency of clinical social work services.
Main Methods:
- A structured telephone interview was used to prescreen 28 patients.
- Social workers provided information on services and community referrals.
- Pre-visit assessments were completed before the initial clinic appointment.
Main Results:
- Patients appreciated the proactive outreach and information provided.
- Prescreening improved the efficiency of social workers' use of clinic time.
- The program laid the groundwork for personalized psychosocial support.
Conclusions:
- Telephone prescreening personalizes psychosocial assessments effectively.
- This strategy empowers patients and multidisciplinary teams in managed healthcare.
- Future integration into collaborative clinical pathways is promising.