Many cancer centers operate at or close to full capacity and have difficulty scheduling patient appointments in a timely manner. Delayed appointments may directly impact patient outcomes when a patient is unable to seek treatment. A delayed appointment may also cause additional distress for patients who are anxious to schedule treatment.

Education in the topic of social determinants of health is important to improve oncology care because a robust process of assessing need, integrating screening tools in the electronic health record, and connecting oncology patients with appropriate services is key to ensuring accessible and equitable cancer care.

Many cancer centers operate at or close to full capacity and have difficulty scheduling patient appointments in a timely manner. Delayed patient appointments may directly impact patient outcomes when a patient is unable to seek treatment. A delayed appointment may also cause additional distress for patients who are anxious to schedule treatment.

Education in this area is important because the broad use of telemedicine in oncology was quickly implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As best practices are being considered, the future of telemedicine in oncology and how reimbursement and legislation will support it, is worthy of discussion.

This session will focus on how quality cancer care is now available closer to your home, or even in your home. To ensure safe access to cancer care, it is important for those who manage patients with cancer and those with responsibility for patient access to recognize how cancer care has evolved over the last few years and to review current challenges and recommendations for continued improvement in patient access to quality cancer care in the future.

It is important for pharmacists to be familiar with the steps that are involved in transitioning oncology therapies that have been historically provided in an inpatient setting to the outpatient setting, and be familiar with the criteria for successful implementation of such an initiative.

This session will discuss telemedicine deployment in response to COVID-19, new patient access, and alternate sites of care. It will also increase awareness around the overall effects the pandemic is having on cancer care and provide an understanding of the challenges centers may continue to face in future.

Cancer centers may not understand how to utilize advance practice providers to their full potential in oncology care and ensure that nurse practitioners and physician assistants are practicing at the top of their license. Some centers may not have the proper resources in place for effective APP recruitment and retention strategies.

Education in this area is important because PRO data has been shown to improve outcomes and increase survival among cancer patients.

Health plans are implementing white and brown bagging as a cost saving measure. There are real patient safety and experience concerns, and these need to be identified publicly as payers continue to adopt these models.