11095 Background: Rapid referral of patients with suspected malignant disease to an oncology specialist is associated with improved earlier-stage diagnosis and survival benefits. The advantage of such rapid care transition can be especially pronounced in aggressive malignancies, where early interventions are critical in reducing mortality. Patients with already established cancer diagnosis may also benefit from such programs. Same Day/Next Day Cancer Care (SDND) is a Jefferson Health enterprise designated referral system allowing patients with newly diagnosed cancers to be seen by an advanced practice clinicians via telemedicine within 48 hours at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCC). Methods: Adult patients with an established diagnosis of aggressive types of malignancies were referred through SDND to SKCCC in the Greater Philadelphia Area if they had concerning symptoms related to disease. The following malignancies were selected: acute leukemias, T-cell lymphomas, diffused large B-cell lymphomas, Burkitt lymphomas, melanomas, glioblastoma multiforme, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, esophageal or gastric carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, biliary tract malignancy, anaplastic thyroid cancer. Socio-demographics, time to appointment with an oncologist and treatment were analyzed. Results: Between July 2024 and December 2025, 209 patients with aggressive malignancies, of which 49% were female with a median age of 67 years, were referred to oncology specialists. Only 19% were new patients, while 81% had already established care. Medical providers made 78.3% of referrals, while other 21.7% were self-referred. Average SDND schedule lag days was 1.04 days. About 85% of patients had medical oncologist consultation appointments, of which 68.8% completed the planned visit. Thirty-four patients (16%) were referred for infusion therapy, of which 64.7% successfully initiated infusion therapy within 50 days. Similarly, 76 patients (36%) had scheduled a surgical specialty consultation, of which 77.9% completed the appointment. Importantly, 53.7% of the patients underwent surgery within 30 days of the SDND referral. Conclusions: SDND is a centralized access program aimed at reducing time to first appointments for newly diagnosed cancer patients. It led to accelerated assessment by oncology providers with high adherence to the management plan. It can ensure faster diagnostic workups and symptom management related to aggressive malignancies by advanced care clinicians, with the potential to improve survival rates, patient satisfaction, reduce treatment–related anxiety and cancer-related morbidity. Further research is needed to determine if this early clinical evaluation by advanced practice providers via telemedicine may reduce complications warranting high-cost care, such as emergency department visits or hospitalizations in high-risk cancer population.
Oganesyan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.