PISTEVO DECISION LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 423

Description

A strong body of evidence demonstrates that addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDH) within healthcare systems advances cancer treatment adherence and outcomes. Preventable cancer deaths continue to occur because of un-addressed SDH challenges across socioeconomic groups and races. Integrating SDH along with clinical information within operational CDS systems built into Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is an essential approach for addressing cancer disparities. We propose developing a software aimed at: (1) Closing the gaps in electronic SDH screening, CDS, and clinical workflows (2) Developing a patientcentered and evidence-based SDH screening and CDS tool (3) Integrating the proposed tool within existing oncology workflows (4) Establishing a framework for continuous assessment and improvement of the proposed solution. Our three-pronged approach combines expertise from software engineering, oncology, and social epidemiology. Our solution will enhance the existing oncology practice by collecting timely and relevant SDH information from patients, together with evidence-based clinical actions addressing psychosocial needs of the patients, resulting in improved cancer treatment outcomes. It will streamline communication and decision support for the patient’s care team and community-based organizations dedicated to addressing patient’s needs, potentially leading to reduce disparities and the burden of a cancer diagnosis on the patient and society.