The Problem

The Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) program of the University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC) is known nationwide for its efforts to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. At the turn of the century, the program’s operations were growing in size, diversity, and medical complexity, but had limited technical capabilities to support this expansion. The UCCC required a scalable, web-based IT solution that would enable program staff to perform critical data management tasks (e.g., patient management, electronic data capture, and wireless access) in a more timely, accurate and secure manner.

The Solution

UCCC partnered with DIFZ to design and implement a web-based Clinical Oncology Information System (COIS) for the cancer center’s BMT unit. Our specific role was to develop a module for the COIS that would enable its users to effectively manage BMT patient information, interact with databases at the National Cancer Institute, and communicate with external physicians for protocol enrollment.

The existing UCCC information system did not support remote access to data, and had few built-in checks and validations to adequately ensure data quality. The existing system also had limited mechanisms for achieving patient privacy and data protection, making it difficult to meet the reporting requirements of regulatory agencies.

We addressed these limitations through the COIS, which provides similar features and functionality across the cancer center’s interrelated programs and personnel. Customized to the unique needs and processes of the UCCC staff, the COIS combines built-in checks and validations, intuitive electronic data entry forms, database technology, industry-recognized standards, wireless capability, and report-building modules to improve the quality of clinical workflows and data management tasks.

The Benefits

Delivering the COIS achieved:

  • Enhanced patient management
  • Improved data quality
  • Improved data collection and sharing
  • Support for rapid, accurate report generation
  • Streamlined compliance with industry-recognized standards (e.g., MedDRA, and HL7 standards)
  • Integration with existing systems, and readiness for future integrations
  • Improved collaboration
  • Remote access capability