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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has disrupted health care globally with dramatic impacts on cancer care delivery in addition to adverse economic and psychological effects. This study examined impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on young adult colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors diagnosed age 18-39 years. Nearly 40% reported delays in cancer-related care, loss of income, and poorer mental health during the pandemic. Impacts were greater for survivors aged 20-29 years, with nearly 60% reporting cancer care delays and 53% experiencing income loss. Such impacts may result in detrimental downstream outcomes for young CRC survivors, requiring specific support, resources, and continued monitoring.

50 Background: Oral chemotherapy is an efficacious albeit toxic treatment of Malignant Hematological diseases. Multidisciplinary oral chemotherapy clinics (MOCC) have been proven to improve care in patients with solid tumors such as prostate and gastrointestinal cancer but there is little data in the Hematological setting. A MOCC was formed to determine if it would lead to a 20% decrease in emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admission over a 10-month period after implementation in patients with Malignant hematological disease on oral chemotherapy. Methods: A chart review of patients on oral Hematological drugs was performed for baseline data. A MOCC consisting of a nurse and a pharmacist was established, with physician backup. Checklists that were drug and disease specific were created for 5 different drugs (Lenalidomide, Ibrutinib, Dasatinib, Nilotinib and Idelalisib) for treatment initiation, follow-up and monitoring and incorporated into the electronic health record. This model was piloted and outcomes were measured to determine improvements in medicine reconciliation, documentation of adverse events, dose modification, patient compliance, unscheduled MD assessments and ED visits. Qualitative interviews were performed with patients and nurses to assess satisfaction with this team approach. Results: 30 patients with Hematological malignancies were enrolled sequentially during the 10-month period. After a median follow up of 7 months, there was 100% medicine reconciliation and 92% compliance with treatment protocols; 47% of patients had interventions requiring dose modifications that would not previously have been documented or addressed. There was a 20% increase in unscheduled MD assessments and a 33% decrease in ED visits and hospital admission from baseline. Both patients and nursing staff were satisfied with the team approach. Conclusions: In a community setting, the implementation of MOCC resulted in early recognition of AE and reduced ED visits. In addition, the new model lead to improved patient and staff satisfaction.

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Introduction: Survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at risk for late effects of therapy and recurrence of cancer. With recurrence rates ranging between 30–40%, follow-up care is needed for both early detection and management of late effects. Cancer care delivery for CRC patients was significantly disrupted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with decreases of 40% in such services in the United States between April 2020 and 2019. Survivors were left with fewer options for care, potentially causing increases in emergency room (ER) utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the patterns of ER utilization during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among young adult CRC survivors and assessed the relationship between self-reported care satisfaction and ER use. Eligible participants were colon or rectal cancer survivors diagnosed between 18–39 years of age, 6–36 months from diagnosis/relapse, English speaking and residing in the United States. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between patient care satisfaction and ER utilization, adjusting for pandemic factors. Covariates were chosen by significance of p < 0.1 at the univariate level and perceived clinical significance. Results: The overall sample (N = 196) had mean age (SD) 32.1 (4.5); 59% were male. Tumor location was colon or rectal in 42% and 57%, respectively, and the majority (56%) were diagnosed with stage 2 disease; 42.6% reported relapsed disease, and 20% had an ostomy. Most survivors (72.5%) had between 1–4 visits to an ER in the last 12 months and were categorized as normal utilizers. Approximately 24.7% of the sample had greater than 4 visits to the ER in the last 12 months and were categorized as super-utilizers. CRC survivors that reported a delay in their follow-up care as a result of the pandemic were two times (OR: 2.05, 95% CI 0.99, 4.24) more likely to be super-utilizers of the ER. Higher self-reported satisfaction with care was associated with a 13.7% lower likelihood of being a super-utilizer (OR: 0.86, 95%CI: −0.68, 1.09). Conclusions: This study found strong associations between delays in care, self-reported care satisfaction, and being a super-utilizer of the ER during the pandemic among young adult CRC survivors off treatment. Increasing patient satisfaction and minimizing care interruptions amongst this vulnerable population may aid in mitigating over-utilization in the ER during an ongoing pandemic.