From Karyn M. Dyehouse, MD, Chief Medical Officer at OHC

November 28, 2018

Many cancer patients often seek care in an emergency room (ER) when they need help with symptoms related to their disease or, more often, their treatments. In most cases, these issues and concerns can be handled with a phone call to an experienced oncology provider. OHC (Oncology Hematology Care) has developed an innovative program that provides cancer patients with the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

All you have to do is call us early and call us first.

We developed a triage program where our patients can speak with a highly trained oncology nurse. We named it ‘Call Us Early. Call Us First.’ because that is the action we want our patients to take.

Cancer patients can call between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. They tell the nurse their symptoms and the nurse immediately determines the best care option for the caller. This could be an office visit with a doctor that day, or an office visit on the weekend, or counseling over the phone.

There are times when a patient does need to be seen in the emergency room. We are just encouraging our patients to call us before the go to an ER because we may be able to provide the care they need. And that’s care provided by a cancer expert, not an emergency expert. And it usually costs the patient less.

In addition to reduced ER visits and improved patient outcomes, the team has reduced hospital admissions by 16%.

“A reduction in hospitalizations means more patients are at home with their loved ones,” said David M. Waterhouse, MD, MPH, medical oncologist and hematologist at OHC, “and this is very meaningful. Advancements in patient care aren’t just about the costs of care!”

After one year in place, the program has reported the following outcomes:

  • Improved patient outcomes
  • Improved patient satisfaction
  • Reduced complications
  • Reduced ER visits
  • Reduced hospital admissions
  • Reduced costs for patients
  • Reduced costs for payors
  • Coordinated patient navigation

For more information about OHC and the program, visit ohcare.com or call 1-888-649-4800.