Improving Breast Diagnostic Services with a Rapid Access Diagnostic and Support (RADS) Program

Abstract

The RADS clinic significantly improved diagnostic wait times and satisfaction scores for patients with a high probability of diagnosis of breast cancer and can serve as an innovative service delivery model for other breast care centers.

Budget Impact Analysis of a Breast Rapid Diagnostic Unit

“…As at our institution, their new clinical model significantly lowered diagnostic wait times while improving patient satisfaction 6,10 . However, the only costs they reported were the incremental nursing salary ($20,731) and the increased cost for the required radiology technologist time and equipment after the addition of 10 biopsy days ($6100) 6 . Albeit not the primary purpose of their study, that economic assessment is limited and did not capture all the direct costs associated with implementing and operationalizing a rdu.…”

“…Arnaout et al 6 described the experience with their Rapid Diagnosis and Support breast clinic initiative. As at our institution, their new clinical model significantly lowered diagnostic wait times while improving patient satisfaction 6,10 .…”

“…Arnaout et al 6 described the experience with their Rapid Diagnosis and Support breast clinic initiative. As at our institution, their new clinical model significantly lowered diagnostic wait times while improving patient satisfaction 6,10 . However, the only costs they reported were the incremental nursing salary ($20,731) and the increased cost for the required radiology technologist time and equipment after the addition of 10 biopsy days ($6100) 6 .…”

“…However, even a cost-effectiveness study would not be able to capture all the indirect costs and benefits of a rdu. For instance, decreasing patient wait time to diagnosis leads to less patient anxiety and increased patient access to support services, both of which are challenging to quantify economically 6,10,25 . Thus, to truly determine whether incremental costs lead to improved patient-centred outcomes or even possibly long-term savings, a cost-effectiveness analysis examining implementation of a rdu, if desired, has to be assessed from the societal perspective.…”

“…Furthermore, the diagnostic phase of breast cancer is an anxiety-provoking and stressful experience for the patient and the family 6 . Although published guidelines outline the appropriate diagnostic algorithms for breast cancer, few recommendations have addressed standardizing the timeliness with which such investigations should occur 7,8 .…”