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8 | Health Matters: Providence Saint John's Health Center J anice Sherrod was one of the very first to download a new app last October that Providence Saint John's Health Center doctors and clinicians use to help them better manage cancer patients' symptoms and their side effects from treatment. The ultimate goal of the multiphase cancer intelligence platform, developed by Project Ronin, is to provide more personalized cancer care and improve outcomes for patients. Sherrod says that being able to track the symptoms and side effects of treatment for her rare form of brain tumor, glioblastoma, has been helpful. "I enjoy using the app. Once it was downloaded, it was easy to use," she says. "I prefer not having to call the hospital. I'm able to record side effects right away as they 're happening." The app, which can be downloaded from mobile app stores, offers a drop-down menu of possible symptoms and side effects to select from. It also has a resource, Sherrod says, for managing the anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Sherrod has been happy with her experience."They 're very responsive," she says. "I wasn't even expecting a call back, and I heard from a nurse within 15 minutes." Ronin alerts a patient's care team through the electronic health records system when it determines their symptoms suggest a need for follow-up, either because the symptom is new or because it is deemed moderate or severe. Mariah Mahotz, RN, a nurse navigator in Providence Saint John's medical oncology program, appreciates the insight and connection Ronin gives the care team. "From the treatment team's standpoint, it's made it really easy to follow patients," says Mahotz. "It's a great way to stay hands- on." She adds that it's particularly valuable for patients who tend to downplay or not mention problems in face-to-face meetings. "We want to make sure the patients are having the best quality of life," says Mahotz, "and with Ronin, we can check in with them more frequently." Ronin also serves as a diary that's always available to patients on their phones in case they need to share information with a secondary care team. And the app appears as a tab in patients' health records, so care teams can easily check what symptoms and side effects patients have been reporting over time. After surgery for her tumor in 2021, Sherrod met with Santosh Kesari, MD, director of neuro-oncology at Providence Saint John's and chair of the Department of Translational Neuro-oncology and Neurotherapeutics at Saint John's Cancer Institute. He oversaw Sherrod's THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE. I WASN'T EVEN EXPECTING A CALL BACK, AND I HEARD FROM A NURSE WITHIN 15 MINUTES.

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