2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-P1.16. Quality Initiative to Improve Timeliness of Care in a Rapid Assessment Lung Cancer Clinic

P1.16. Quality Initiative to Improve Timeliness of Care in a Rapid Assessment Lung Cancer Clinic - PDF(Abstract)

Pdf Summary

This study investigates the implementation of a quality improvement program in a Rapid Lung Assessment Clinic (RLAC) to improve the timeliness of care for patients with suspected lung cancer. The RLAC was established in 2018 to fast-track patients with suspected lung malignancy, and in the first 15 months of operation, delays in diagnosis and treatment were identified. In 2020, the quality improvement program was implemented, which included a pre-clinic PET scan and a dedicated nurse coordinator to track patient timeliness and care. The study retrospectively analyzed patients reviewed in RLAC between July 2020 and June 2021 and compared the results to data from patients reviewed between March 2018 and June 2019. <br /><br />The results showed that out of 125 patients referred to RLAC, 102 attended, with a mean age of 67 years. The median time from referral to RLAC review was 10 days, and 76% were seen within 14 days. The median time from referral to diagnosis was 21 days, and to treatment was 51 days. Only 38% of patients received treatment within 42 days of referral. The study also found that patients who had a PET scan prior to initial review had shorter times to diagnosis and treatment. <br /><br />Overall, the implementation of the quality improvement program led to a reduction in the time from referral to diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. However, challenges still remain in meeting guidelines for time to treatment, especially due to the increasing complexity of diagnosis and staging for lung cancer. The findings highlight the importance of continuous quality improvement initiatives in improving the timeliness of care for patients with suspected lung cancer.

Asset Subtitle

Shakti Dabholkar

Meta Tag

Speaker Shakti Dabholkar

Topic Screening & Early Detection: Nodule Management

Keywords

quality improvement program

Rapid Lung Assessment Clinic

timeliness of care

suspected lung cancer

delays in diagnosis

treatment

pre-clinic PET scan

dedicated nurse coordinator

patient timeliness

retrospective analysis