Practice Transformation: Early Impact of the Oncology Care Model on Hospital Admissions.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the Oncology Care Model (OCM) is to improve quality and reduce cost through practice transformation. A foundational tenant is to reduce avoidable emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations. In anticipation of being an OCM participant, we instituted a multidimensional campaign designed to meet these objectives. METHODS: Prior actions included establishment of phone triage unit, after-hours and weekend calls, and institution of weekend urgent care. RESULTS: On the basis of data from the Chronic Condition Warehouse, as provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, we were successful at reducing the acute care admissions rate by 16%. During the baseline period extending from Jan 2016-Mar 2016, the hospital admission rate was 27 per patient, per quarter, at an average cost per admission event of $11,122, translating to an inpatient cost per patient, per quarter, of $3,003. In the year one reporting period of July 2016-July 2017, the hospital admission rate declined to 22.6 per patient, per quarter, at an average cost per admission event of $11,106, translating to an inpatient cost per patient, per quarter, of $2,505. OCM patient survey scores improved. In addition, at Oncology Hematology Care, we achieved improved results compared with the risk-adjusted national averages for the following measures: readmissions (4.9 v 5.6 per 100 patients, respectively), ER use (17 v 18.6 per 100 patients, respectively), and observation stays (2.7 v 3.6 per 100 patients, respectively). CONCLUSION: By implementing a cost-efficient, reproducible, and scalable campaign targeting ER avoidance and hospitalizations, we were able to decrease hospital admissions. Reported Medicare savings amounted to nearly $798,000 in inpatient cost per quarter over 1,600 patients.

A Phase II trial of Denileukin Diftitox in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Denileukin diftitox, a chimeric protein, uses the cytocidal properties of diphtheria toxin to cells expressing interleukin-2 receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of denileukin diftitox in the treatment of advanced relapsed nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multicenter phase II trial in patients with NSCLC with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS 0-2, stage IIIB/IV at diagnosis, who had failed at least 1 previous chemotherapy regimen. Denileukin diftitox was infused at 18 microg/kg/d x 5 days, every 21 days for 6 cycles. RESULTS: For the 41 patients enrolled, the median age was 56 years (range, 21-80), 25 were men, and the median number of previous chemotherapy regimens was 2 (range, 1-5). The median number of treatment cycles was 2 (range, 1-6). By RECIST criteria, 18 (44%) had stable disease, 10 (24%) progressive disease, and 13 (32%) were not evaluable for response as they received less than 2 treatment cycles. The median time to disease progression was 1.8 months [range, 0.3-11.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-2.6]. Median survival was 5.8 months (range, 0.3-33.6; 95% CI 3.4-11.4). The median follow-up time was 16.1 month. One death from myocarditis verified at autopsy was attributed to treatment. One grade 4 toxicity (vascular leak syndrome) was encountered, and 18 grade 3 toxicities, primarily gastro-intestinal, vascular leak syndrome, and constitutional symptoms. CONCLUSION: Denileukin diftitox at current dose schedule has limited activity in patients with previously treated NSCLC, manifested by disease control without impact on survival.