CLEVELAND — Cancer patients endure a complex array of symptoms throughout their treatment journey, many of which deeply impact their quality of life. Fatigue, pain, nausea, and emotional distress often accompany both the malignant disease itself and the aggressive therapies designed to combat it. These symptoms can hinder treatment adherence, increase hospital visits, and significantly diminish patients’ overall well-being. Recognizing this pressing clinical challenge, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative designed to harness digital technology to monitor patient-reported symptoms in real time, a venture supported by significant funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
This innovative project represents a cutting-edge integration of patient-centered electronic health monitoring tools directly embedded within EPIC, one of the most widely used electronic health record (EHR) systems. By leveraging electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs), the initiative aims to systematically capture, track, and respond to symptom severity and fluctuations as reported directly by patients undergoing cancer therapy. The seamless integration into EPIC facilitates immediate access to critical patient data by clinical teams, enabling more timely and personalized interventions to manage symptoms effectively.
Leading this transformative effort are Dr. Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, Chief Quality and Clinical Transformation Officer at University Hospitals and Veale Distinguished Chair in Leadership and Clinical Transformation, alongside Dr. Melinda Hsu, MD, a prominent medical oncologist at UH Seidman Cancer Center. Their leadership underscores a strategic commitment to embedding evidence-based, patient-centered care models within complex healthcare systems, aiming to revolutionize cancer symptom management through technological innovation and rigorous clinical science.
The scope of the project encompasses ten clinical locations, including the flagship UH Cleveland Medical Center, targeting a high volume of patients—over 10,000 individuals across Northeast Ohio alone. This scale not only reflects the ambition to drive widespread clinical impact but also serves as a critical testing ground for developing scalable, sustainable models of digital symptom monitoring that could be disseminated nationally and beyond.
The conceptual foundation for this initiative derives from prior PCORI-funded comparative clinical effectiveness research, which demonstrated that patients actively completing electronic patient-reported outcome surveys reported significantly enhanced symptom control, improved physical function, and better overall health-related quality of life when compared to traditional care approaches. These data underscore the transformative potential of ePROs to shift the paradigm in oncology symptom management from reactive to proactive care.
The project’s electronic monitoring tools are designed to capture granular patient data across multiple symptom domains in a systematic and user-friendly manner. This empowers clinicians to identify emerging symptom patterns earlier, adjust therapeutic regimens more precisely, and provide supportive care interventions tailored to evolving patient needs. The use of real-time symptom data also supports shared decision-making by facilitating transparent communication among patients, caregivers, and multidisciplinary care teams.
Moreover, this initiative aligns with the objectives of PCORI’s Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII), which aims to bridge the persistent 17-year gap often observed between evidence generation and clinical application. By involving health system stakeholders directly in the design, implementation, and refinement of these digital tools, the project embodies a pragmatic approach to knowledge translation that prioritizes real-world applicability and sustainability in complex health settings.
The successful integration of ePROs into existing EHR infrastructure such as EPIC is itself a remarkable technical achievement. It leverages health informatics expertise to ensure interoperability, data security, and workflow integration, minimizing clinician burden while maximizing the utility of patient-generated data. This represents a model for how health systems can adopt next-generation digital health innovations within established clinical frameworks without disruption.
Another notable aspect is the multidisciplinary nature of the project team, which includes oncologists, quality improvement specialists, informatics experts, and patient advocates. This collaborative approach ensures that the technology and clinical pathways developed remain patient-centered, clinically valid, and operationally feasible across the diverse settings of the UH Seidman Cancer Center network.
The anticipated outcomes extend beyond immediate symptom management. By improving symptom control and patient engagement, the project aspires to enhance therapeutic adherence, reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and ultimately improve survival outcomes. These multidimensional benefits reinforce the critical importance of integrating patient voice directly into the fabric of cancer care delivery.
As the project moves forward, ongoing evaluation and iteration will be essential. Continuous data analysis will help identify best practices, uncover potential disparities in symptom reporting or care responsiveness, and refine algorithms that trigger clinical alerts based on symptom severity thresholds. This iterative process reflects a learning health system model, where data drives continuous quality improvement.
In the broader context of oncology and chronic disease management, this initiative exemplifies the shift toward precision medicine paradigms that include not only molecular and genetic precision but also precision in supportive care through digital health. By embracing ePROs and integrating them within routine clinical workflows, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center is positioning itself at the forefront of a healthcare revolution that prioritizes patient experience as an essential outcome metric.
Finally, this funding award by PCORI, pending contractual finalization, represents both a validation of the clinical importance of symptom management and a strategic investment in transforming cancer care infrastructure using digital health technologies. It is anticipated that the knowledge and methodologies developed through this work will catalyze broader adoption across health systems nationally, ultimately benefiting the millions of patients undergoing cancer treatment worldwide.
Subject of Research: Electronic patient-reported outcomes monitoring to improve symptom management in cancer patients
Article Title: University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center Advances Cancer Symptom Management Through Integrated Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Tools
News Publication Date: Not specified
Web References:
– PCORI study on electronic patient-reported outcomes: https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2023/using-electronic-patient-reported-outcomes-epros-monitor-symptoms-during-cancer-treatment
– PCORI Health Systems Implementation Initiative: https://www.pcori.org/implementation-evidence/putting-evidence-work/health-systems-implementation-initiative
References: Not explicitly included in the original content
Image Credits: Not provided
Keywords: Diseases and disorders, Health care
