Patient navigation reduces time to care for patients with breast symptoms and abnormal screening mammograms

Introduction

Concern has been raised about delays for patients presenting with breast symptoms in Canada. Our objective was to determine if our Rapid Access Breast Clinic (RABC) improved care for patients presenting with breast symptoms compared to the traditional system (TS).

Methods

A retrospective chart review tabulated demographic, surgical, pathology and radiologic information. Wait times to care were determined for patients presenting with symptomatic and screen detected breast problems.

Results

Time from presentation to surgeon evaluation was shorter in the RABC group for patients with breast symptoms (81 vs 35 days, p?<?.0001) and abnormal screens (72 vs 40 days, p?=?.092). Cancer patients with abnormal screens had shorter wait times than patients with breast symptoms in the TS (47 vs 70 days, p?=?.036).

Conclusion

Coordination of imaging and clinical care reduces wait times in patients with both abnormal screening mammograms and symptomatic breast presentations and should be expanded in our province.