Improving the Timeliness and Quality of Care for Rural Lung and Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

Provision to sign and date the consent form.
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study.
Male and female adults over 18 years old
English or Spanish speaking
Receives cancer treatment at University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) , SCL-St. Mary's Medical Center, or Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC) in Pueblo, CO.
Resides in any of the rural counties served by one of the collaborating sites with Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) codes 4-9.
Diagnosed with lung cancer (LC): small cell lung cancer (SCLC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), using incident LC diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology [ICD-O] codes: C34.0, C34.1, C34.2, C34.3, C34.8, C34.9, and C33.9, and other lung cancer variants
Stage of diagnosis for SCLC (limited vs. extensive), NSCLC (Stages 0, I, II, IIA, IIIB, IV), according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging [AJCC] Tumor Node Metastasis [TNM] stages: I-IV)
Will receive the following types of LC and/or HNC treatments (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of those modalities, including neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy)
Diagnosed with HNC using head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ICD-O codes for the oral cavity (including lip; codes C00.0-C00.6, C00.8, C00.9, C02.0-C02.3, C02.8, C0.2.9, C03.0, C03.1, C03.9-C04.1, C04.8-C05.0, C06.0-C06.2, C06.8, and C06.9), the oropharynx (codes C01.9, C02.4, C05.1, C05.2, C5.8, C5.9, C09.0, C09.1, C09.8-C10.4, C10.8, C10.9, C14.0, C14.2, and C14.8), the hypopharynx (codes C12.9-C13.2, C13.8, and C13.9), and the larynx (codes C32.0- C32.3 and C32.8-C32.9) and histology codes for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or its variants (codes 8032, 8050, 8052, 8070-8075, and 8083-8084), and salivary gland cancer (code C07 and variants), and other head and neck cancer variants
Stage of diagnosis for HNC (Stages I, II, III, IV) according to the AJCC's TNM stages I-IV
Diagnosed with malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland, ICD-10 code: C73, and other thyroid cancer variants
Inclusion Criteria Confirmed via Baseline Survey
Rural and medically underserved, defined as meeting the following criteria:
Rural: Resides in a rural county with a RUCC code 4-9 AND,
Underserved population who come from counties meeting any of the "health professional shortage areas" OR "Medically Underserved Areas/Populations" AND/OR
Uninsured: No health insurance (public or private insurance) AND/OR
Underinsured: (c.1) Public insurance (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare Part B exclusive, VA) (c.2) 10% or more of annual income is spent on out-of-pocket medical expenses

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria Assessed During Screening:

Children under 18 years old
Individuals who do not speak English or Spanish
Individuals not receiving cancer treatment at one of the collaborating sites
Diagnosed with primary cancer other than LC and/or HNC, or other type of LC and/or HNC not listed in the inclusion criteria
Diagnosed with a type of LC or HNC listed under inclusion criteria but will not be treated at one of the collaborating hospital sites
Has already initiated curative treatment for the current episode of cancer

Exclusion Criteria Assessed via Baseline Survey:

Individuals from vulnerable populations (e.g., inmates or on probation, homeless*, and pregnant*)
Decisionally-challenged with cognitive or personality impairment, suicidal ideation or intoxication (alcohol or drugs) at the time of consent or endorsed in baseline survey that interfere with ability to participate in the study
Unable to hear (not including individuals who can hear with an auditory aid)*
Likely inability to track the individual over time (e.g. no permanent address at the time of consent) *Individuals who become homeless, pregnant, or lose their hearing or permanent address after they have consented and/or assigned to study condition may remain in the study until completion