Internet CareLink for Pediatric Home Chemotherapy

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim from the Applicant's Abstract): We propose Pediatric
Cancer CareLink, a prototype Internet support system for home management of
childhood leukemia. Our proposed system will specifically help families of
children undergoing multiple cycle chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia
(ALL) manage medications, side effects of treatment, and potential
complications in their homes. For example, a daily log of parent-supplied
information will assist the care team in recognizing and responding to life
threatening situations. Parents will also be able to use CareLink to support
practical, informational, and emotional needs associated with ALL care in the
home.

While many companies and hospitals are working on information systems to reduce
medication errors, to our knowledge, no commercially available application
exists addressing the unique needs of medication safety when the administration
of these pharmaceuticals has shifted into the home. The short-term consequences
of chemotherapy often produce cyclic symptoms and complications in the home
setting regardless of the administration setting. Failure to recognize
significant problems can be devastating.

Pediatric Cancer CareLink will provide families a direct, secure Internet care
support channel to their cancer care team at a cancer center. This innovative
system will empower providers and families to improve care processes and
outcomes for children with ALL.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
We believe our technology platform and product model can enable care improvements in
conditions/diseases where high costs result from access barriers (physical, convenience,
or genographic), information failure, poor coordination of care, maldistribution of provider
resources, and uneven quality. In addition to high-risk newborns, we believe that patients
with cancer, diabetes, asthma, HIV infection, and many other long term, chronic conditions
will benefit from our specialized product model.