Collaborative Care: A Solution for Providing Optimal Psychosocial Oncology Care - Implementing Collaborative Care in Oncology-Plotting your Course for Collaborative Care Implementation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar introduced ACCC’s series on implementing collaborative care in oncology settings, with support from AOSW and APOST. Speakers emphasized that supportive care is an essential part of quality cancer care and that collaborative care is an evidence-based, team-based model designed to improve access, outcomes, and sustainability.<br /><br />Dr. Bill Pearl focused on building awareness and buy-in. He explained that many people misunderstand collaborative care, often seeing it only as a depression treatment, when it is actually a care delivery system that can be tailored to a patient population’s needs. He recommended emphasizing benefits and evidence first, using tailored messaging for different stakeholders, and starting with a pilot rather than trying to transform an entire center at once. He also highlighted the value of grand rounds, external experts, and articles to legitimize the model.<br /><br />Dr. Jesse Phan described staffing and team roles. Core roles include an implementation lead, oncology champion, care manager, and psychiatric consultant, with optional additions such as a psychologist, patient navigator, palliative care provider, and nurse. He stressed that staffing needs depend on patient complexity, available resources, and clinic responsibilities.<br /><br />Courtney Bitz shared Dana-Farber’s experience implementing collaborative care, including creating manuals, training timelines, standardized competencies, and phased staff training. She emphasized relationship-building, standardization without rigidity, peer mentoring, documentation, and addressing resistance and role uncertainty through open discussion.<br /><br />The webinar ended with Q&A on integrating integrative oncology, billing limits, and culture change in team roles, reinforcing that collaborative care should be flexible, patient-centered, and team-driven.

Keywords

collaborative care

oncology settings

supportive care

team-based model

implementation

staffing roles

care manager

psychiatric consultant

patient-centered care

quality cancer care