CancerSupportSource (CSS)

Distress Screener for Adults and Caregivers

Routine distress screening can play an important role in understanding and supporting cancer patients’ unique needs. Cancer Support Community recently published a new study about the development of a brief version of its distress screening measure, CancerSupportSource-15+ (CSS-15+).

Cancer Support Source 15+ identifies important concerns across key areas of patients’ lives and screens people at risk for clinical depression and anxiety. In its full implementation, respondents can ask for help about specific concerns and are provided tailored, automated referrals to support resources and follow-up care. The information generated by CSS-15+ can facilitate important conversations with care providers and enhance patient navigation.

  • Quality & Efficiency

    Validated and evidence-based cancer distress screening program that integrates screening, referral (in-house and community), and follow-up care, through a single, streamlined program.

  • Patient Experience

    The patient chooses what level of support they want and receives real-time instant feedback and resources. Automated referrals to appropriate staff make the patient experience seamless. Patient satisfaction is closely tied to identifying and having actionable steps to address patient needs.

  • Provider experience

    Customization based on level of support allows hospitals to manage staffing. Real-time feedback and triage of the highest acuity patients get providers patient-facing with those that need them most. Provider satisfaction increases with real-time data for individual patients as well as aggregated data sets for the patient load.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • CancerSupportSource can be used in any cancer care setting?

    CancerSupportSource is designed with the community practice setting in mind, where 85% of cancer patients are treated. CSS allows health care teams to thoroughly assess and address needs of cancer patients identified with distress. CSS integrates institutional and community programs to provide the necessary support resources improving overall quality of care, patient satisfaction and institutional efficiency.

  • How does it work?

    In less than 10 minutes, patients can complete a 15 or 25 item screening tool on any computer or tablet (at home or in office) with a standard browser. CancerSupportSource provides the patient with a Personal Support Care Plan with information and referrals for support services which can be emailed or printed. Providers receive a Patient Distress Management Report—a summary score of a patient’s results, including actionable clinical alerts to help staff triage a response.

  • Why is CSS different?

    CancerSupportSource enables patients to not only rate their concerns but to identify what specific assistance is needed. As a complete program offering automated screening, referral and follow-up for busy oncology settings, reports are instantly generated including resource fact sheets that can be customized for any institution. CSS is HIPAA compliant and can be linked to the EHR using HL7 and web services interface.

  • When is it available?

    CancerSupportSource is ready and available for implementation. It has been validated against standardized measures and pilot tested in multiple sites. Our team is available to present the CSS Program by phone or in-person. Contact us to learn more.

  • What is the long-term impact of coordinated care?

    Early identification of emotional distress and follow-up treatment through counseling and support services has repeatedly demonstrated direct benefit to the patient, their family and the health care system. Recent studies indicate that patients with general distress who participated in psychotherapeutic interventions experienced:

    • Decrease in depression4
    • Decrease in mood disturbance and psychiatric symptoms4
    • Improvement in coping, cognitive and emotional outcomes5
    • Improvement in quality of life5
    • Decrease billing to the health care system6

    For more information about CancerSupportSource personalized distress screening, please contact us.

  • How Can I Learn More About CancerSupportSource?

    CancerSupportSource is ready and available for implementation today. It has been validated against standardized measures and pilot tested in multiple sites across the country. Cancer Support Community is currently working with Patient Planning Services to expand CancerSupportSource into care sites nationwide. The team from Patient Planning Services is available to present the CancerSupportSource Program by phone or in-person.

    For more information about CancerSupportSource personalized distress screening, please contact us.