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.
['McKevitt|Elaine|E|', 'Dingee|Carol|C|', 'Warburton|Rebecca|R|', 'Pao|Jin-Si|JS|', 'Brown|Carl J|CJ|', 'Wilson|Christine|C|', 'Kuusk|Urve|U|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle D001943:Breast Neoplasms D002170:Canada D055088:Early Detection of Cancer D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008327:Mammography D008875:Middle Aged D062526:Patient Navigation D012189:Retrospective Studies D014850:Waiting Lists
Wait times Breast cancer Delivery of care Diagnosis Surgery