Implementing and Evaluating a Pilot Interprofessional Training Program to Engage Health Care Teams in Cost of Care Conversations

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (11/01/24) Edward, Jean; Northrip, Kimberly D.; Rayens, Mary Kay; et al.

An interprofessional training program sought to increase healthcare team members' familiarity with and knowledge about cost of care (CoC) conversations and address social determinants of health in a pediatric hematology-oncology clinic. For the study, 21 participants — including clinicians, social workers, financial navigators, and legal advocates — were surveyed about their baseline/pretraining knowledge CoC knowledge and then surveyed immediately post-training and again 12 months later. After completing the Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance-Training program, the majority of the participants said their knowledge of the relevant topics had increased. Specifically, 66.7% reported greater knowledge of available financial resources and 86.7% reported greater awareness of legal resources. Additionally, 93.3% indicated improvement in their ability to address social and financial needs, while 66.7% felt better able to facilitate CoC-related conversations with patients and their caregivers. The researchers noted "a lower positive rate for actual behaviors around routine screening and initiating discussions on out-of-pocket costs, suggesting a need to address barriers." The results, they said, "highlight the importance of interprofessional education in helping health care teams address social determinants of health through effective CoC conversations."

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