Sarah Petelinse
Guided Meditation as a Method of Processing Patient Death
Mentor: Christine Raps, MD
Department: Emergency Medicine
Background:
This study examined the documentation of social determinants of health (SDOH) and referrals to social services within the Radiation Oncology department at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI).
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients diagnosed with cancer who had a new patient visit in June 2024 within the Radiation Oncology department. Primary outcomes included the presence and location of SDOH documentation in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) SDOH dashboard, the “Social Determinants” open text section, or mentions within the clinic note. Descriptive analysis assessed documentation rates and referral patterns concerning SDOH indicators. A logistic regression analysis examined the relationship between demographics and referral to social work.
Results:
Among 151 new patients, 100% had SDOH documentation in their EMR. Of these, 96.7% had portions of the SDOH dashboard completed, with an average of 3.62 out of 15 sections filled. Additionally, 18.5% utilized the “Social Determinants” open text section, and 97.4% had an SDOH mention in their clinic note. Patients undergoing systemic therapy were 2.15 times more likely to receive a social work referral. The odds of referral slightly decreased with age, at 0.97 per additional year.
Conclusion:
Despite universal SDOH documentation, the low completion rate (24.1% on average) for the designated SDOH dashboard suggests underutilization of this tool, which could be vital for reducing the burden of oncologic treatment and improving patient outcomes.
