Lani Alison Outlines Questions Patients Have About Care Pathways, Treatment Guidelines

Lani M. Alison, BSN, MS, HCQ, PCMH, CCE, vice president of Clinical Affairs, Regional Cancer Care Associates, explains the questions that patients have about oncology care pathways and treatment guidelines.

Transcript

What types of questions do patients ask about oncology care pathways and treatment guidelines?

They always ask, “Am I getting the low-cost treatments/ therapies because I’m on this pathway? What does pathway really mean?” So, we educate the patients that it’s an advantage for them because those pathways have been researched, are actively being studied, and are actively being used by many, so there is evidence that this is better and it also gives them a reassurance if we educate them well that these are the therapies that actually are tested already, that you don’t have to feel like you’re a guinea pig or anything like that that they would think because of the word pathway and that doesn’t really mean that because I’m getting the lowest cost I’m getting the lowest type of regimen. It’s like you’re buying a cheaper bag versus a designer bag. So, we have to be able to educate our patients that that is not so.