Shared-care program to better coordinate cancer and chronic disease care for underserved patients
OPTIMISE: A Shared Care Approach for Improving Comprehensive Care of Cancer Patients with Comorbidities in A Safety-Net System
['FUNDING_R01'] · THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11473510
This program connects oncologists and primary care doctors to improve care for people newly treated for breast, gastrointestinal, or blood cancers who also have other chronic health conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11473510 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you are a newly diagnosed breast, GI, or hematologic cancer patient who also has another chronic condition, this project offers a shared-care program to improve communication between your cancer team and your primary care provider. Three hundred patients treated with curative intent who need ongoing management for comorbidities will complete a baseline survey and then be randomly placed into either the OPTIMISE shared-care program or usual medical care. The shared-care approach focuses on structured coordination and information-sharing between oncologists and PCPs to support treatment, surveillance, and chronic disease management during and after cancer care. Study staff will track outcomes to see whether the coordinated approach helps patients navigate care more smoothly and improves health after treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newly diagnosed breast, gastrointestinal, or hematologic cancer patients treated with curative intent who also have one or more chronic conditions that require ongoing management during cancer treatment, and who receive care in the participating safety-net system.
Not a fit: Patients without comorbid chronic conditions, those receiving non-curative or purely palliative cancer care, or patients treated outside the participating safety-net system are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve coordination of cancer and chronic disease care, reduce complications, and lead to better follow-up and quality of life for medically underserved cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Shared-care and care-coordination programs have shown promise in prior studies, but this approach is relatively novel for complex cancer survivors in a large safety-net healthcare system.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BADR, HODA J. — THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BADR, HODA J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.