Abstract
Previous data have shown that inpatient radiation oncology consult services result in high-value care, with decreased length of stay, adoption and delivery of shorter fractionation schedules, and lower hospital costs. As such, institutions are increasingly creating inpatient radiation oncology services, although little is known about the allocation of limited resources for patients who may have limited prognosis, complex simulation requirements, and may have difficulty tolerating treatment. Thus, we sought to examine the utilization of simulation appointments for inpatient emergencies.
At our institution, inpatient consults are placed to a specialized inpatient palliative radiation oncology service, consisting of radiation oncologists specialized in metastatic and palliative RT, dedicated advanced practitioners, and nurses who specifically assess patients for medical appropriateness prior to simulation, including changes in disposition, medical stability, and adequate premedication. Electronic health record data was used to explore utilization trends of a single-institution inpatient radiation oncology consult service in 2020. Data regarding the nature and timing of consults, subsequent simulations and treatments, and patient outcomes including 14-day mortality and 30-day mortality from radiation (RT) start were assessed. Descriptive statistics are presented.
From 1/1/2020-12/31/2020, 1557 consults were placed. These consults led to 220 (14.1%) inpatient simulations. Of these planned simulations, 210 (95.5%) simulations occurred (of which 10 [4.8%] were rescheduled and eventually completed) and 179 (85.2%) completed treatment. Of 169 with mortality data available, 16 (9.5%) died within 14 days of RT start, and 41 (24.5%) died within 30 days of RT start. Of those with scheduling data (N = 193), 122 were same-day simulations (63.2%), and 507 (93.8%) occurred within 7 days or fewer.
Of 1557 inpatient consultations in one year, with appropriate metastatic and palliative experience, only a minority of consultations required inpatient simulation (14.1%). With appropriate nursing assessment, over 95% were able to complete simulation, with nearly two-thirds completing simulation on the same day, and nearly all patients completing simulation within a week of consultation. Most of these patients completed treatment and survived 30 days from treatment start. Thus, with highly specialized radiation oncologist clinical judgment in conjunction with appropriate nursing assessment prior to simulation scheduling, patients booked for simulation represent high-value utilization of resources.