Patient-Centered Medical Home Care for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized Phase 2 Study

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is an exciting strategy that has the potential to revolutionize hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Traditionally, home care has been used for palliative care in end-stage cancer patients and in geriatrics. More recently the PCMH has gained increasing adoption for both primary care and care of medically complex patients. The core of the PCMH lies in the interaction between the healthcare team, the patient's family and support, and above all, the patient. These interactions can be enhanced through health information technologies such as the electronic health record (EHR) and videoconferencing via iPads. In addition, collection of patient reported outcomes (PRO) will allow feedback and adjustments.

This integration is especially important when considering the multiple complicated needs of the HCT patient: navigating a Byzantine healthcare system that often requires input and coordination from multiple specialists including transplanters, hematologists, infectious disease physicians, gastroenterologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, pharmacists, social workers, financial coordinators, etc.; managing medication regimens to prevent infections, GVHD, and other complications (not to mention avoiding drug and food interactions); adjusting to multiple side effects including fatigue, weakness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, pain, anxiety, stress, organ failure, etc.; the sheer amount of time required for healthcare visits, lab draws, waiting for results, infusions, transfusions, etc.; physical and psychosocial struggles of living with a life-threatening disease; and the burdens of a treatment that often seems as debilitating as the disease. The PCMH provides patient-centered, comprehensive, accessible, and coordinated care and a systems-based approach to quality and safety: these attributes are essential to the successful care of the complicated HCT patient. this approach has the potential to lower overall costs while preserving or increasing the quality of care.