Supportive Oncology Services Accrues One Million Cancer Patient Self-Reported A...( Direct Collection of Patient-Reporte...),Health

Direct Collection of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) Improves Cancer Care

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Supportive Oncology Services, Inc. (SOS), a noted leader in oncology research-based health information, announced today it has accrued over one million cancer patient self-reported assessments using the PACE(TM) electronic e/Tablet system. In October, 2000 medical oncologists at The West Clinic began collecting information directly from cancer patients via a wireless, touch screen e/Tablet system known as the Patient Assessment Care and Education (PACE) System. The clinicians were in search of better ways to monitor and manage symptoms in order to improve quality of life issues for cancer patients. Recently, the one millionth self-reported patient assessment was collected from a US-based practice via PACE (TM), establishing a milestone in the accrual of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) in the oncology community.

PACE(TM) provides a gender-specific, in-depth review of body systems and psychological/social well-being, facilitating a more focused and productive physician/patient encounter. "The PACE System prompts patients to tell me things they might otherwise forget," according to Pat Cobb, MD, Medical Oncologist with Hematology-Oncology Centers of the Northern Rockies in Billings, Montana. "Additionally, patients seem more comfortable sharing sensitive information such as symptoms of depression, suicide, and sexual dysfunction. I prefer to have the PACE assessment completed before meeting with the patient."

In recent reports, the value of PROs in caring for the patient and potentially predicting and avoiding negative outcomes has been recognized by the Institute of Medicine (Cancer Care for the Whole Patient, 2008) and research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (J Clin Oncol 26:1355-1363). Clinical research findings, utilizing PACE(TM) generated PROs, have also been presented at major oncology conferences by opinion
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