Collaborative Care: A Solution for Providing Optimal Psychosocial Oncology Care - Implementing Collaborative Care in Oncology-Building Scalable Collaborative Care Models: Integration Design, Pilot Execution, and Sustainability

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar focused on practical strategies for implementing and sustaining collaborative care in oncology settings. Speakers described how their institute has built collaborative care teams since 2020 and is expanding across campuses, with full rollout planned for 2027.<br /><br />Key engagement strategies included securing leadership buy-in at both institutional and divisional levels, meeting face-to-face with oncology teams, and clearly explaining what collaborative care is, how it works, and what will change for clinicians and patients. Presenters emphasized using familiar oncology language and framing the model around issues oncologists care about, such as distress, adherence, and outcomes.<br /><br />They recommended explaining the model from multiple angles: an overview diagram of team relationships, a process map showing patient flow, role definitions for each team member, and a “what’s changing vs. what’s staying the same” slide. They also discussed common concerns, often rooted in fear rather than resistance, such as worries about added workload or psychiatric responsibility. Ongoing, real-time education and feedback during case review meetings were described as more effective than one-time training alone.<br /><br />For pilot success, the speakers noted that failure usually happens because teams never launch, do not implement the full model, lack financial planning, or experience leadership turnover—not because of metrics alone. Important pilot metrics include access, volume, wait times, satisfaction, and potential billing estimates. Sustainability depends on maintaining good patient access, continuing education, preventing model drift, keeping workflows functional, and making the program visible through presentations and publications.<br /><br />In the Q&A, they noted that collaborative care can be started without major new funding if existing staff roles are reorganized, but it still requires an internal champion. A psychiatric prescriber is needed for standard CMS billing, though not necessarily a psychiatrist specifically.

Keywords

collaborative care

oncology

implementation strategy

leadership buy-in

team-based care

patient flow

role definitions

pilot metrics

sustainability

psychiatric prescriber