Advanced Practice Providers in Radiation Oncology

Area of Science:

• Radiation Oncology
• Healthcare Administration
• Advanced Practice Providers

Background:

• Academic radiation oncology centers face challenges in optimizing patient care and departmental workflow.
• The integration of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) offers a potential solution to these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the utilization of APPs in an academic radiation oncology center.
• To demonstrate how APPs benefit patient care and departmental workflow.

Main Methods:

• A self-reported workflow analysis of APPs across five disease sites was conducted.
• Electronic medical records were reviewed to assess independent versus shared patient visits.
• The APP didactic and clinical training program was evaluated.

Main Results:

• APPs spent approximately 40% of their time on direct patient care, with a significant portion in independent follow-ups and telehealth.
• Indirect patient care (30-50%) included visit preparation, care coordination, and dictation.
• APPs managed most visits independently (86.41%), with administrative duties varying by disease site.

Conclusions:

• APPs positively impact radiation oncology by augmenting clinical capacity and optimizing workflow.
• An independent-to-practice model with parallel clinics enhances APP job satisfaction and patient access.
• This model of APP utilization can be implemented in other radiation oncology departments.