At a recent CQI meeting with clinicians, one of your providers suggested that a change in cancer treatment regimen may be more effective for patient outcomes. Specifically, a move from a bolus injection of some cancer treatment medications (such as cytarabine and belomycin) have been shown to increase anti-tumor effects. Instead, a continuous infusion (pump) delivery of the medicines has been suggested by clinical research and shown to even reduce the effects of toxicity of normal tissues as a result.
As the administrator, an assessment of cost/benefit (not necessarily the use of CBA, unless you want to go that route?) is required and asked of you. You are asked to provide a report from the “business perspective” of this change in medication delivery (bolus injection vs. continuous infusion) and asked to discuss with the team what your “decision-making tools” state what the correct action is here. You are immediately surprised with their inquiry regarding such areas of health administration, knowing very well that they are primarily focused on clinical outcome improvements, regardless of the cost…
What is your response to the team? Since they do not have time to meet again before your report is due, you are left to communicate your findings via an email message to the clinical CQI team. Draft your email that discusses your (hypothetical) findings, mentioning the decision-analysis tool(s) used, as well as the potential asymmetrical information that may be in play by these medical providers as they evaluate your finding(s).
Be sure to utilize outside references/resources to demonstrate your ongoing study efforts on this Module’s topics (as appropriate) and submit before the due date listed in the course syllabus.
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Carlson, R.W. & Sikic, B.I. (1983). Continuous infusion of bolus injection in cancer chemotherapy. Annals of Internal Medicine, 99(6), 823.