CareSupport^sm – Resources for Coping with Cancer
Cancer Management Program

The CareSupport – Resources for Coping with Cancer program is designed to help guide patients diagnosed with cancer through the challenges of cancer treatment. The program goal is to provide support and assistance to our members in navigating the health care system. With the promotion of evidence-based care, as well as compassion at end of life, patient outcomes can be improved and optimized while still containing rapidly increasing costs.

Case managers in the CareSupport program:

• Conduct initial patient assessment utilizing clinical guidelines where appropriate, in collaboration with the primary care physician and oncologist.
• Perform one-to-one telephonic counseling, home and/or team visits for facility-based patients, where appropriate.
• Coordinate services across multiple providers and sites to assure progress toward meeting member and program goals.
• Facilitate timely intervention to improve patient health through care coordination with the treating oncologist and treatment facilities. This includes working with other non-cancer treatment providers to better manage the co-morbidities that cancer patients frequently have.
• Coordinate timely communication of patient progress and encouragement of early intervention when issues are identified for follow up.

Case Managers are Registered Nurses and Social Workers
Case managers at Preferred Care work in a team model to address specific clinical issues and the underlying psychosocial concerns that contribute to overall risk. Case managers may be CCM-certified registered nurses or OCN-certified oncology nurses. Their experience working with community resources enables them to effectively interact with out patients and providers.

CareSupport Program Eligibility

• Patient has biopsy-proven cancer
• Patient has begun or is planned to undergo any of the following treatments:
• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Biologic Therapy
• Patient who has a history of cancer that has recurred and needs treatment or supportive management

How to Get Your Patient Involved
If you would like additional information about the CareSupport program or would like to refer a member for enrollment, please call the Preferred Care CareSupport Enrollment Specialist at 327-2543 or 1-800-933-3920, ext.2543.

Last updated: August 30, 2007