The impact of an oncology urgent care center on health-care utilization.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Studies suggest that many emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for patients with cancer may be preventable. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has implemented changes to the hospital outpatient reporting program that targets acute care in-treatment patients for preventable conditions. Oncology urgent care centers aim to streamline patient care. Our cancer center developed an urgent care center called the direct referral unit in 2011.

Methods

We abstracted visits to our adjacent hospital ED and direct referral unit from January 2014 to June 2018. Patient demographics, cancer and visit diagnoses, visit charges, and 30-day therapy utilization were assessed.

Results

An analysis of 13 114 visits demonstrated that increased direct ref

SUBMITTER: D'Avella C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10946649 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature