Congratulations to Lauren M. Hamel, Ph.D, assistant professor, Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine and her team for being recognized with an Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) Innovator Award. This recognition was given for The DISCO App: A Patient-Focused Tool to Reduce Financial Toxicity.
The ACCC Innovator Award recognizes projects and initiatives that advance the goals of improving access, quality and value in cancer care delivery.
The DISCO (DIScussions of COst) app educates patients with cancer about potential treatment-related costs and generates tailored questions to prompt cost-related conversations with providers. In a pilot study, the app significantly improved patients’ self-efficacy for managing treatment costs and interacting with providers while decreasing cost-related distress. Most importantly, 100% of these video-recorded clinic visits included a cost discussion on topics ranging from patient co-pays to transportation.
Dr. Hamel will be recognized at the ACCC 38th National Oncology Conference on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in Austin Texas.
To learn more, and view a video about the project, visit www.accc-cancer.org.