Overview

CareOrbit is a digital perioperative patient-education and care navigation platform developed by the St. Louis-based venture Total Orbit in collaboration with Washington University's CORTEX Business Incubator. For head and neck cancer (HNC) care, the platform is designed to address gaps in perioperative education by guiding patients through each stage of their surgical journey using structured modules, step-by-step instructional videos, and centralized educational resources. CareOrbit delivers physician-authored content tailored to an individual's surgical care, including overviews of surgical treatment, preoperative preparation, and expectations for postoperative recovery. Early anecdotal experiences suggest that patients appreciate the accessibility of the tool, but systematic evaluation is lacking in whether use of the tool improves understanding, satisfaction, and care outcomes. This project will address key knowledge gaps by employing a clinical trial to examine key clinical endpoints.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Have a new diagnosis of head and neck cancer
• Planning or scheduled to undergo free flap surgery and/or total laryngectomy, or caregiver to eligible patients
• Have internet access
• English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 18 years of age
• No internet access
• Non-English speaking