QLTI-10. IMPACT OF A NEURO-ONCOLOGY HOSPITALIST MODEL ON INPATIENT CANCER CARE DELIVERY AT A SINGLE INSTITUTION

Abstract Patients with brain tumors are often admitted to the hospital at critical stages of their disease course: initial diagnosis, relapse, end-of-life, and for management of serious complications. Patients who develop neurologic complications from systemic cancers and their treatments also frequently require management in the hospital setting. Most neuro-oncologists have busy outpatient practices and limited inpatient responsibilities. Their experience with hospital workflows, bandwidth to see inpatients, and comfort level managing certain diagnoses such as immunotherapy neurotoxicities may be variable, even within a single institution. Recent literature supports the beneficial role of the Oncology Hospitalist, a physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients with cancer. Oncology Hospitalist care improves length of stay, cost effectiveness, and the patient and oncologist experience. To our knowledge, the role of a hospitalist who specializes in the care of patients with neuro-oncologic issues has not yet been investigated. Here we describe the responsibilities and examine the impact of a Neuro-Oncology Hospitalist at a single institution over a 2-year period, with a focus on metrics of quality and efficiency of care. Patients and cancer care systems benefit from the dedicated inpatient presence of a neuro-oncologist, supporting the development of a Neuro-Oncology Hospitalist model.