This is a pragmatic, prospective, randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of large language model (LLM)-generated serious illness conversation (SIC) summaries delivered to patients' inpatient and outpatient clinicians at the time of hospital admission on the primary outcome of days in the hospital in the next 90 days.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* DFCI Patients, defined as patients who have a DFCI medical record number.
* Admitted to an inpatient solid tumor medical oncology service at BWH (including beds that are considered to be DFCI beds within BWH)
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Mortality prediction ≥ 25%
* Admitted on a Sunday after 4pm through Friday at 4pm. These time restrictions are necessary for the workflow of this pragmatic pilot trial, as the intervention requires a staff member to send intervention emails during the work week but within \<= approximately 18 hours of admission. Accordingly, we will not enroll patients during holiday time periods (e.g., for a Monday holiday, enrollment would start on Monday at 4pm instead of Sunday at 4pm) or on days where staff absences (e.g., illness) preclude enrollment.
Exclusion Criteria:
• Patients with elective inpatient admissions (typically for planned administration of chemotherapy or other treatments)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.