Abstract PS1-04-13: Expanding Access to the Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic: A Patient-Centered Screening Strategy and Characterization of Patients Served

Abstract Significance and Background: The diagnosis of advanced breast cancer (ABC) requires greater support and resource utilization compared to early-stage breast cancer. MD Anderson Cancer Center’s ABC Clinic is staffed with Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who provide personalized care through complex medical system, provide education about diagnosis/ treatment, assist with clinical trial process, explain genetic/genomic testing, discuss goals of care, and offer emotional support. In 2025, the ABC Clinic evaluated a new screening process for ABC patients seen in breast center to determine the fit for an ABC Clinic video visit, with the aim of increasing the number served. Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the screening process on access to the ABC Clinic by comparing the number and characteristics of patients served in 2025 versus 2024. Methods: Data were collected during visits between late March and June in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, patients were referred by a provider or self-referral. In 2025, ABC Clinic APRNs screened patients scheduled in breast oncology clinics. APRNs identified ABC patients who were Texas residents (due to licensing regulations), in active treatment, haven’t had a visit in the ABC Clinic in >365 days, and excluded patients who were going to hospice care. The oncology team would approve which patients to contact for an ABC Clinic video visit. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Findings: The new screening process increased provider referrals by 986% and patients with completed visits by 138% compared to 2024. In 2025, 188 unique patients were seen in 235 visits. Over half (54%) were new to the ABC Clinic, female (n= 186) with a diagnosis of ABC, and self-identified as White (68%) and non-Hispanic (79%). Most patients (86%) were diagnosed one to five years ago, married (62%), retired (32%), and had an ECOG status of 0 or 1 (89%). There were 56 total outgoing referrals to 15 different clinics or services with 30% of patients having at least one internal referral. Concerns identified by ABC patients: education (81%), coordination of care (46%), emotional concerns (42%), and physical concerns (40%). In 98% of visits, 40-60 minutes focused on care-related challenges. Patients seen in 2025 were more often be a new patient to the ABC Clinic (54% vs 22%), Hispanic (18% vs 12%), aged ≥ 70 years (20% vs 13%), have a ECOG score of 0 (34 vs 44%), and have a new ABC diagnosis (8% vs 6%). Patients seen in 2025 were more likely to present with knowledge deficit (81% vs 74%) and physical symptoms (40% vs 10%) compared to patients seen in 2024. Patients were more likely to discuss treatment related goals of care (38% vs 26%), have an internal referral (24% vs 20%), and the departments/services referred to more than doubled (15 vs 7) compared to referrals in 2024. Discussion and Implications: ABC patients presented with knowledge deficit and physical and emotional symptoms necessitating additional time at visits to assess and address concerns. An APRN-led visit allows for time to address education, physical symptoms, and goals of care. The screening process significantly increased referrals and new patients to the ABC Clinic and changed outgoing referral patterns and increased number of new patients. Future efforts will focus on outcomes for first time patients and long-term impact of the screening implementation. Citation Format: G. Kirklin, A. Anderson, A. J. Kaler, M. Butaud, A. Singareeka, J. Harris, T. Jacobsen, B. Lim. Expanding Access to the Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic: A Patient-Centered Screening Strategy and Characterization of Patients Served [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-04-13.