Wait Times in Colon Cancer Care Delivery: An Analysis of Disparate Factors and Delay.

INTRODUCTION

Delays in colorectal cancer (CRC) care can heighten patient stress. Our aim was to identify factors that influence wait times at various time points along a CRC patient's treatment journey and the barriers to staging and definitive treatment of nonmetastatic CRC.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic colon cancer who underwent nonemergent colon surgeries at a single, academic center (2017-2022). Time intervals (in days) from points along the colon cancer journey were evaluated.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-three patients were included. Median time from diagnosis to staging was 9 d, diagnosis to Colorectal Surgery visit was 15 d, Colorectal Surgery visit to surgery was 33 d, surgery to discharge was 3 d, and discharge to Medical Oncology visit was 23 d. Patients >65 y and those with Medicaid/Medicare required more frequent preoperative risk stratification and specialty consults (both P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

By evaluating patient-specific reasons for delay, we may be able to improve our timeline for delivery of care to patients with CRC.