Frontline Clinical Intervention Program:Use of a Smartphone Application to Improve Post-Op Care

Numerous barriers exist for patient adherence to post operative care following total laryngectomy.  Without complete voice restoration, the single most challenging postoperative consequence is the inability for patients to effectively communicate with their care team. This protocol explores the use of a smartphone application to improve post-operative outcomes following major Head and Neck Cancer and Reconstructive Surgery by providing timely resources and support to the patient and their caregivers. The health care field will be enriched with new ways to interact, support, and communicate with patients. The innovative model of care strives to become a clinical problem solver by improving the current method of written postoperative instructions and ongoing monitoring to support the patient and caregiver in their home environment. Written postoperative instructions are often misunderstood, or have the ability to become misplaced. The FitNinja^TM interactive template provides a means for the patient and caregiver to access information through a series of instructional wound care videos. Through this model, patients send and receive data regarding their postoperative status, communicating with the care team daily. Such an interactive model allows both patient and care givers to obtain coordinated care and multidisciplinary support, becoming active participants engaged in recovery.  The opportunity to expand and improve current practice allows providers to work in partnership with the patient and family using a visual, interactive support tool. Patient and caregivers have the ability to ask questions, send pictures and data to the care team, and to receive individualized information promptly. Such technology will assist patients in adhering to their post-operative treatment plan while awaiting voice restoration following total laryngectomy. The use of this application will lead to increased adherence, which, in turn will lead to a decrease in complications and re-hospitalizations, decreasing costs and improving outcomes. Data recorded during the care plan can be used to evaluate compliance, outcomes, and provide evidenced based care in the future.  Full implementation of this platform allows for the incorporation of additional provider protocols, maximizing all aspects the care continuum.