Clinical Summary

• Preliminary findings suggest SocialHealth360 improved workflow efficiency and patient tracking in community oncology settings.
• Nursing and staff participants reported better coordination of social support services and fewer patients “falling through the cracks.”
• The implementation study is evaluating impacts on patient outcomes, treatment adherence, and staff workload and satisfaction.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) continue to contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes, increasing care complexity and adding strain to oncology nursing and support staff workloads. An ongoing multisite implementation study presented at the 2026 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Congress is evaluating whether SocialHealth360, an online patient-navigation platform, can improve social support delivery and workflow efficiency in community oncology practices.

The mixed-methods study involves 2 community oncology networks and examines both patient-reported outcomes and nursing/staff experiences. The intervention includes the SocialHealth360 platform, live training, educational support, and ongoing technical assistance.

Researchers are assessing outcomes including patient “Healthy Days” scores using the CDC HRQOL-4 instrument, treatment adherence, and staff-level measures such as job fulfillment, productivity, and workflow mastery. The study compares pre- and post-intervention data. Preliminary findings presented from nursing and staff interviews included responses from 26 participants interviewed between July and October 2025 by researchers from Dartmouth College. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using thematic qualitative methods.

Early thematic analysis suggested that the navigation platform improved workflow efficiency and enabled more timely social support delivery. Participants described more streamlined processes, improved patient tracking, and less duplication of effort across care teams. Staff also perceived meaningful patient benefits from the system, including better continuity of support and fewer patients “falling through the cracks.” Investigators noted that the platform may help clinicians more effectively identify and address social barriers affecting cancer care.

The study’s broader quantitative analysis of patient-reported outcomes and clinical data remains ongoing, with additional results expected in late spring.

Clinically, the findings highlight the growing role of technology-enabled navigation systems in addressing SDOH within oncology practice. By systematizing social support workflows, platforms such as SocialHealth360 may help reduce administrative burden while improving coordination of patient-centered care. The project also reflects increasing attention to the role nurses and support staff play in managing nonclinical factors that influence treatment adherence and outcomes. Improved documentation and coordination of social services could also inform future reimbursement and policy discussions related to supportive oncology care.

Researchers emphasized that the study remains in active implementation, with further interviews and analyses planned through mid-2026 before final conclusions are drawn. However, the preliminary data suggest that structured patient-navigation technology may improve efficiency, strengthen social support delivery, and enhance care coordination in community oncology settings.

Source:

Shasteen E, Bevington L, O’Connor S, Boyer N, Mahling SM, Hogea C. Evaluating the Impact of a Patient Navigation System on Nursing and Social Support in Community Oncology. Presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress; May 13-17, 2026. San Antonio, TX.