Impact of advanced practice provider–led new consults in community oncology: Expanding access and volume in benign hematology.

1531 Background: Community oncology practices face rising patient volumes and workforce shortages, leading to delays in access to care. Although Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are increasingly utilized to expand capacity, the structure and impact of APP-led new consult models, particularly in benign hematology, remains unclear. This analysis evaluated the operational and clinical impact of APP-led benign hematology consult programs to determine whether this model improves timely access and supports high-quality, patient-centered care. Methods: A retrospective, multi-site analysis was conducted in four community oncology practices within The US Oncology Network that implemented APP-led new consult models in benign hematology. Key performance indicators included total new consult volume, time to first appointment (T2F), percentage of APP visits, and APP engagement. Data were obtained from internal scheduling platforms, productivity dashboards, and operational reports. Pre- and post- implementation comparisons assess changes in access and throughput. Results: Across all sites, APP-led consults significantly enhanced access and capacity. In a four-year period at Practice A, median T2F decreased by 50% (24 to 14 days; 36 to 18 days across two regions). During the same timeframe, monthly new consults increased from 208 to 1,045, and total new patient volume rose 403% (2,495 to 12,544). APP participation expanded from 93 to 162 clinicians. In Practice B, APP-led consults increased from 55 (2024) to 406 (2025; 638% YOY growth), with daily new visits rising from 0 to 3 per day and APP share of total practice visits increasing from 0% to 23%. The model generated 295 physician hours saved and reduced T2F for new cancer patients from 8 to 4 days. Physicians and patients expressed confidence and satisfaction with APP new visit care. Practice C grew APP-led consults from 171 (2024) to 235 (2025; 37% YOY growth), increasing APP share of total practice visits from 5% to 23%. Practice D expanded from 2 to 7 visits/day (September 2024 to Oct 2025) with consults rising from 81 to 1,221 (1,407% YOY). APP visit share grew from 6% to 59%, and T2F decreased from 15 days to 7 days. Conclusions: APP-led new consult models in benign hematology improved access, operational efficiency, and growth within community oncology settings. By optimizing APP utilization, the model addressed workforce shortages, accelerated time to care, and enabled early triage of patients. Broad APP engagement and sustained growth across diverse settings demonstrates its scalability and impact. Together, these findings support the integration of APP-led new consults as a practical and transformative approach to addressing critical gaps in oncologic care delivery. Ongoing prospective evaluation will further define the model's impact and inform broader adoption of this approach and best practices across the oncology landscape.