Accelerating access: A new approach to cancer diagnosis.

148 Background: Access to care is a prevalent issue in healthcare and this unfortunately includes oncology patients. Many patients present with symptoms or concerning laboratory results and imaging but do not yet have a diagnosis. The process from symptom onset to initial evaluation to diagnosis and treatment plan formation can often take weeks to months. Care delays have a significant negative impact on morbidity and mortality, particularly in the oncology population. Methods: A cancer diagnostic center was created in June 2020 at a midwestern comprehensive cancer center to mitigate care delays for patients with suspicion of cancer. The cancer diagnostic center is staffed by Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with advanced oncology certification and provides expedited clinic evaluation of signs and/or suspicious symptoms for an underlying malignancy. The cancer diagnostic center then assists with setting up biopsies, staging scans, and referring to appropriate oncology teams once a definitive diagnosis is achieved. Results: Since the clinic’s inception, the cancer diagnostic center has seen over 3,200 new patient cases. The clinic was able to see patients within 2 business days for a majority (66%) of cases. Data demonstrated that the clinic served communities throughout Ohio and some of its surrounding states. Approximately 53% of the referrals were internal (within the medical center), 23% were external referrals (from outside institutions), and 24% were self-referrals without a direct referral from a provider. Conclusions: To address delays in oncology care, innovative strategies such as rapid access cancer diagnostic centers are proving to be highly beneficial. Reducing the time from symptom onset to evaluation and diagnosis has positive implications for patient outcomes. Future directions include expanding the clinic staff, practicing at multiple outpatient locations, and continuing to work internally within the academic medical center system to expedite biopsies and oncology appointments once a diagnosis is achieved.