Ashwini Ranade, Nathaniel Rickles, Ayten Turkcan and Ramin Mohammadi
Northeastern University ,USA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Health Edu Res Dev
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. The tumor has a poor prognosis with median survival following diagnosis between 6 and 20 months. We know very little about structural arrangements and organizational dynamics within the healthcare system when it comes to HCC management. This exploratory study investigates the current state of care in the field of HCC management with specific focus on healthcare system capacity. A case study of HCC management at the VA (Veterans Affairs) is conducted. We conducted interviews with VA HCC experts and a descriptive data review is done to understand patient flow, site capacity, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Based on our findings, we can conclude that the management of HCC is complicated and is beyond clinical assessment alone. The level of expertise needed from the interdisciplinary care team, lack of access to adequate resources, limited availability of data that can be applied to improve outcomes and cost associated with treatment are some of the issues posing a significant challenge to providing patient centered care for VA patients. The role of tumor boards in helping mitigate some of these challenges emerged as a promising solution to increase the delivery capacity of the existing delivery system. In conclusion, this case study provides meaningful insights into some aspects of HCC management. Though not a comprehensive and generalizable evaluation there are a few action steps that can be taken to improve quality of care for HCC patients.
Email: a.ranade@neu.edu
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