Using a Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) model, navigators from one site in the 2018 AONN+ Metric Pilot Study used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (Appendix) to assess patient symptoms: pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite, wellbeing, and shortness of breath for cancer patients. The navigators were using the tool to assess any palliative care needs that might exist during treatment. Navigators were not typically involved in such assessments, and the care team did not believe that every patient needed to be assessed. Ultimately the navigation team developed their own assessment tool, which they deployed during the survivorship stage, enabling them to incorporate palliative care assessments in a way that was consistent with their cancer care model.
Last modified: August 10, 2023