5) Exploring Breast Cancer Patterns of Care in Central Appalachia
     Deborah Geary, RACDP Program Director

     SUMMARY
     The study describes the process and outcomes of an attempt to develop an interactive electronic patient cancer health record system to improve communication and continuity of care among physicians and other health professionals who often work in different setting and cancer patients. Barriers to success for this three state Appalachian demonstration are described that explain why project leaders deemed its development as unfeasible. The majority of providers and institutions in the area did not endorse a shared electronic record at the time of the development, citing technological, legal and evaluative reasons for lack of endorsement. The project also identified primary care and specialty provider reluctance to work with others outside their own health system.

     FINDINGS
     5.1   There are multiple challenges presented by use of electronic health record system in the documentation of care provided by multiple health professionals working in different settings.
     5.2   Providers and institutions in the area were not keen on endorsing an electronic training system designed to monitor ore evaluate patient care and communication.
     5.3   Providers and specialists are reluctant to work with others outside their own health system.

Assessing Patterns of Cancer Care Article (PDF File)

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