Advocating for Psycho-Social Oncology Care

In the complex landscape of oncology, where the focus is often on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness, the essential role of psycho-social oncology can sometimes be overlooked. Yet, as Sally Werner, RN, BSN, MSHA, chief executive officer of Cancer Support Community, emphasized, these supportive services are more than just a complement to care; they are a fundamental component of a patient’s journey through a cancer diagnosis.

As an oncology nurse, Werner has a unique perspective on the critical marriage of clinical and supportive care. She understands the challenges clinicians and administrators face when trying to justify the budget for these services. However, she argues that the data is clear: investing in psycho-social care directly improves patient outcomes. Whether it's enhancing adherence to treatment or addressing the practical, logistical burdens faced by patients and their families, these services ease the burden of treatment and allow patients to be more engaged in their own care.

Transcript:

Psychosocial oncology is half, if not more, of making it through a cancer diagnosis. I’m an oncology nurse by background; even though I work with 650 plus social workers, I think that this marriage [between] clinical care and supportive care is so critical. It’s hard to make that case sometimes in the budget for bringing in those support services, but honestly, there’s enough data out today to prove that outcomes can be improved when there are those support services in place. Whether that’s adherence to care [or] understanding some of the practical, logistical concerns of patients and family members, it eases the burden and doesn’t put all of that on the patient and on their caregiver; we can ease that for them and take a lot of that off [their shoulders]. When I’m justifying being in partnership with a cancer support community or another advocacy organization, [where] some of the dollars attached to that [will go], oftentimes those types of partnerships cost far less than 1 full-time employee. You have a whole program to offer patients, caregivers, and the community at large, for less than the cost of a full-time employee with benefits. The financial model exists today where it’s sometimes what we do that is subsidized by some billing codes, but for the most part, a good portion of what we do is not fully subsidized. It’s making that case of patient outcomes and easing their burden so that they can be strong advocates and partners and engaged in their own care.