Establishing a general medical outpatient clinic for cancer survivors in a public city hospital setting.
BACKGROUND
Many cancer centers and community hospitals are developing novel models of survivorship care. However, few are specifically focused on services for socio-economically disadvantaged cancer survivors.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a new model of survivorship care serving culturally diverse, urban adult cancer patients and to present findings from a feasibility evaluation.


METHODS
Adult cancer patients treated at a public city hospital cancer center.


METHODS
The clinic provides comprehensive medical and psychosocial services for patients within a public hospital cancer center where they receive their oncology care.


RESULTS
Longitudinal data collected over a 3-year period were used to describe patient demographics, patient needs, and services delivered. Since inception, 410 cancer patients have been served. Demand for services has grown steadily. Hypertension was the most frequent comorbid condition treated. Pain, depression, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and bowel dysfunction were the most common post-treatment problems experienced by the patients. Financial counseling was an important patient resource.


CONCLUSIONS
This new clinical service has been well-integrated into its public urban hospital setting and constitutes an innovative model of health-care delivery for socio-economically challenged, culturally diverse adult cancer survivors.
Queens Cancer Center, Queens Hospital Center, 82-68 164th Street, Jamaica, New York 11432, USA. goytiae@nychhc.org
Elliott J
EJ
Goytia
David W
DW
Lounsbury
Mary S
MS
McCabe
Elisa
E
Weiss
Meghan
M
Newcomer
Deena J
DJ
Nelson
Debra
D
Brennessel
Bruce D
BD
Rapkin
M Margaret
MM
Kemeny
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D016730:Program Development / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends