Improving Affordability in Cancer Care Through Economic Screening and Support (I-ACCESS)

In Aim 1, we will interview up to 30 clinical leaders and front-line staff across the two healthcare systems and community-based practices to understand workflows and opportunities for I-ACCESS integration. Assessment constructs will focus on understanding structural characteristics (including information technology infrastructure), available resources, culture, compatibility, relational connections, communications, and access to knowledge. These data will inform the creation of tailored process maps to outline processes and procedures to prepare each site for I-ACCESS implementation and elucidate when, how, and by whom I-ACCESS screening should be done.

In Aim 2, we will implement I-ACCESS as part of routine clinical practice for eight months at each site. Using a pre-/post-approach, we will examine whether I-ACCESS screening increases the number of financial counseling and oncology social work referrals (primary outcome). We will also examine counseling dispositions, receipt of services among those referred to financial support, and the predictive accuracy of the screening tool (secondary outcomes).

In Aim 3, we will analyze approximately 225 patient and 25 clinician surveys, informed by the Practical, Robust, Implementation and Sustainability Model, to gather feedback on I-ACCESS delivery, procedures, and barriers/facilitators to implementation. Based upon survey findings, we will then focus on key implementation determinants and outcomes through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with up to 40 stakeholders. Stakeholders will include patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, financial counselors, clinical support staff, and hospital administration at participating clinical sites.