Table 3C.

Profile of a Clinic Based in an Oncology Division

Name (contact)	Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Dr. Juliet Jacobsen)
Patient volume	498 patients per year, including 300 new
Patient characteristics	95% with cancer. Major reasons for referral are symptom management, psychosocial support, and goals-of-care discussions. 60% of referrals are from oncologists, 20% from inpatient palliative care consult services, and 20% from primary care providers.
Practice characteristics	11 half-days of clinic/week with average of 1 exam room available per clinic session. New patient visits are 60 minutes, follow-up visits 30 minutes. Wait time averages 7 days.
Staffing	6 part-time (approx 15% each) physicians, 1 full-time advanced practice nurse or nurse practitioner, 1 full-time nurse (RN)
Funding	50% institutional support and 50% billing
Routinely collected data	Appointment data (e.g., no-shows, cancellations)
Impetus for starting	This practice started 7 years ago “To better serve patients who have ongoing needs for palliative care.”
Innovation	“Working with patients early in the course of illness. Working closely with referring oncologists—high rates of collaboration/joint visits.”
Definition of success	“Patients who need to be seen are scheduled and seen promptly. Clinic schedules are full. Appropriate coverage of clinic patients in terms of phone calls returned and scripts filled.”
Challenges faced	Competing practice priorities.