Using smart tools and phone-based coaches to help people with cancer plan their care
Algorithm-enabled Patients Activated in Cancer care through Teams (A-PACT) toimprove goals of care communication for people with cancer
This project uses a computer algorithm to find cancer patients who may need help, then connects them with a six-month phone-based program to support conversations about prognosis, values, and advance care planning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11289404 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the system scans medical records with a machine-learning algorithm to flag patients likely to benefit from goals-of-care conversations. Flagged patients are referred to a lay health worker (LHW) who provides structured education and coaching by phone over six months to prepare and prompt conversations with your oncology team. Earlier, the PACT phone program doubled goals-of-care discussions and cut end-of-life hospitalizations in single-center tests. A-PACT aims to automate patient identification so this support can reach more people in busy community oncology clinics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with cancer who receive care at participating oncology clinics and are flagged by the algorithm as at higher risk or likely to benefit from advance care planning support.
Not a fit: Patients with very early-stage cancer who do not need immediate care-planning conversations, those not receiving care at participating sites, or those without reliable phone access may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help patients have earlier, clearer conversations about care goals, reduce unwanted hospital stays near the end of life, and better align care with patients' wishes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-institution trials of the phone-based PACT program doubled goals-of-care conversations and halved end-of-life hospitalizations, and the A-PACT algorithm has shown feasibility and preliminary validation.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parikh, Ravi Bharat — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Parikh, Ravi Bharat
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.