Effect of a Same-Day-Appointment Initiative on Access-Related Benchmarks in Radiation Oncology.

PURPOSE: The timely delivery of health care is an important quality indicator that has been shown to correlate with outcomes for cancer patients. We present our single-institution experience with the implementation of a same-day-access scheduling initiative in outpatient radiation oncology. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From March 2021 to March 2023, a total of 4301 consecutive new patients referred for radiation oncology consultation were offered same-day appointments as part of a prospective pilot initiative conducted at a tertiary-based academic medical center. Descriptive statistics were used to study the effect of this initiative on access-related benchmarks compared with historical control patients referred during a preceding 24-month period. RESULTS: Among the 3414 patients scheduled, 477 (14%) opted for same-day appointments. Black, Latino, and Asian patients were significantly more likely to use same-day access versus Caucasian patients (P < .001). The same-day-access initiative increased the proportion of patients seen within 5 days from referral from 22% to 61% (P < .001). The median time from referral to consult was 12 days (range, 0-149 days) before the implementation of the same-day-access initiative compared with 3 days (range, 0-101 days) after (P < .001). The no-show rate was reduced from 15% to 7% with the initiative (P < .001). All patients who requested a same-day appointment were successfully accommodated. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of this same-day-access initiative enhanced operational efficiency and reduced barriers to care in the outpatient setting.

Effect of a same day appointment initiative on racial disparities in access for radiation oncology.

PURPOSE: We present our single-institution experience with the development of a same day access scheduling initiative for an outpatient radiation oncology unit, focusing on its potential influence on ameliorating racial disparities. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From March 2021 to August 2022, a pilot initiative was conducted such that all new patients referred to a tertiary care-based radiation oncology department were offered the ability to be seen as a same day consultation. The timespan of this analysis was categorized into 2 distinct successive periods over 36 months-a 18-month pre-initiative period (September 2019 to February 2021) and another subsequent one (March 2021 to August 2022). Descriptive statistics were used to study the impact of this initiative on access-related benchmarks. RESULTS: A total of 2897 patients were referred. Among the 2107 patients scheduled, three hundred and sixteen (15 %) opted for same day appointments. Black, Latino, and Asian patients were significantly more likely to use the same day access initiative versus Caucasian patients (p = 0.01). The same day access initiative increased the proportion of patients seen within 5 days from referral from 8 % to 34 % for Blacks, 12-57 % for Latinos, and 18-67 % for Asians, compared to 39-55 % for Caucasians (p < 0.001). The no-show rate was reduced from 20 % to 7 % and 14-5 %, for Black and Latino patients, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a same day access initiative narrowed disparities with respect to access-related benchmarks.