Oncology · Controlled clinical trial
The Siteman controlled clinical trial: an orbit, measured against usual care
Pancreatic cancer surgery patients and their families at Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, were issued a CareOrbit and otherwise treated identically to a matched control group. These are the results.
Topline results
What changed when patients had an orbit
Measured against a matched control group receiving identical care without CareOrbit.
−41%
Readmissions
Reduction in readmissions vs. the control group.
−53%
Calls pre-op
Fewer calls to the physician office before surgery, with 39% fewer post-op.
+65%
Patient understanding
Improvement in understanding of the disease, treatment specifics, and pre- and post-treatment plans.
+22%
Patient satisfaction
Improvement in HCAHPS and SF-36 satisfaction scores. Family satisfaction rose 38%.
Controlled study, Siteman Cancer Center. Patient measures vs. matched control group.
The full ledger
Every measure, for patients and their families
Family members were issued orbits alongside patients, and were measured as rigorously. In several categories the family effect was the larger one.
Understanding
Understanding of treatment plan and side effects
+65%
patients
+42%
family members
Measured improvement in understanding of the disease, treatment specifics, and pre- and post-treatment plans, via validated surveys conducted as personal interviews.
Navigation
Ability to navigate the care journey
87%
of patients improved
77%
of families improved
Improvement in navigating the surgical process: working with the care team, logistical requirements including appointments, required actions, and follow-ups.
Preparedness
Preparedness and accountability
−53%
calls pre-op
−39%
calls post-op
Fewer calls to the physician office in both periods, indicating patients and families arrived and recovered more prepared.
Readmissions
Readmission rate
−41%
vs. control group
Reduction in readmissions among CareOrbit patients compared with the matched control group.
Satisfaction
Satisfaction scores
+22%
patients, HCAHPS and SF-36
+38%
family members
Improvement in patient HCAHPS and SF-36 satisfaction scores, with an even larger lift among family members.
Support services
Utilization of resources and support services
96%
of patients and families
Reported reaching additional support and educational resources, internal and external to Siteman, from their orbits.
Adoption
Adoption and usage
90%
activated their orbit
107
avg. page views per user
Of all users issued an orbit, 90% activated it, in under 4 days on average from invitation. Each patient and family member generated an average of 107 page views in their initial period of usage.
Voices from the study
How care teams responded to orbits in action
Surgeons, nurses, and managers were interviewed throughout the study. A representative sample of their responses.
“It helps evolve the quality of our conversations, leading to understanding happening earlier for everyone who could be part of the patient’s improvement.”
On communication
“They are nervous and confused and it helps them see what they face in ways they are comfortable around.”
On lowering anxiety
“It was hard to deny the control group orbits for use during our study. We knew just how much an orbit could help them right now.”
On the control group
“I’m a nurse and I wish my own Dad had an orbit when he went through his procedure.”
A study nurse
Study design
How the study was run
A controlled design with a matched comparison group, validated survey instruments, and a nationally noted surgical oncologist as study author.
Participants
Who was studied
Approximately 125 users: 50 patients plus approximately 75 family members, all issued orbits.
Diagnosis and procedure: patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who had consented to surgery, Whipple or RAMPS, as part of their treatment plan.
Matched control: participants were issued CareOrbit but otherwise treated identically to a matched non-CareOrbit control group.
Method
How results were measured
Validated surveys, conducted as personal interviews with patients and family members, for measures such as navigation, understanding, and preparedness.
Operational measures, including call volume, readmissions, activation, and usage, tracked directly.
Study author
Who ran it
Dr. Ryan C. Fields, chief of the Section of Surgical Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine, treating patients at Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis.
A nationally noted cancer surgeon and researcher focused on patients at high risk of cancer recurrence, running a translational research laboratory funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The information on this page is the extent of what can be publicly shared prior to publication of the study. Some details of the validated survey instruments remain confidential until that time. Dr. Fields has made himself available for discussion with interested professional parties, including competitive healthcare systems. Siteman Cancer Center is currently expanding use of orbits, with multiple orbits now in development.
Go deeper
Get the study results, or talk it through
Download a summary of the study results, including program details. Or bring your own service line numbers and we will walk through what an orbit could change for you.
Download the study summary
Full results and program details, in one document.