APP-Led Benign Hematology Consults Improve Access in Community Oncology, Study Finds

Key Takeaways

• Advanced Practice Provider (APP)-led benign hematology consult models improved access to care across four US community oncology practices, reducing time to first appointment (T2F) while expanding patient capacity.
• Operational efficiency increased substantially, with growth in new consult volumes, greater APP participation, and physician time redirected to oncology care.
• The findings suggest APP-led new consults are a scalable strategy for addressing workforce shortages and improving timely, patient-centered care in community oncology settings.

Community oncology practices continue to face increasing patient demand and workforce shortages that can delay access to care. A retrospective, multisite analysis conducted across 4 community oncology practices within The US Oncology Network evaluated whether APP-led benign hematology consult models could improve operational efficiency and expand timely patient access while maintaining confidence among physicians and patients.

APP-Led Consults Expanded Capacity Across Community Oncology Practices

The analysis examined key operational metrics before and after implementation of APP-led benign hematology consult programs. Investigators evaluated total new consult volume, T2F, percentage of APP visits, and APP engagement using internal scheduling platforms, productivity dashboards, and operational reports.

Across all 4 practices, APP-led consult models were associated with improved access and increased clinical capacity.

At Practice A, median T2F declined by 50% over a 4-year period, decreasing from 24 to 14 days in 1 region and from 36 to 18 days in another. During the same period, monthly new consults increased from 208 to 1045, while total new patient volume grew 403%, from 2495 to 12 544. APP participation also expanded, increasing from 93 to 162 clinicians.

At Practice B, APP-led consults increased from 55 in 2024 to 406 in 2025, representing 638% year-over-year growth. Daily new visits increased from none to 3 per day, and APPs accounted for 23% of total practice visits compared with 0% before implementation. The model also generated 295 physician hours saved while reducing T2F for new cancer patients from 8 days to 4 days. According to the analysis, both physicians and patients expressed confidence and satisfaction with APP-led new visit care.

At Practice C, APP-led consults increased from 171 in 2024 to 235 in 2025, a 37% year-over-year increase. APPs expanded their share of total practice visits from 5% to 23%.

At Practice D, daily visits increased from 2 to 7 between September 2024 and October 2025. Total consults increased from 81 to 1221, representing 1407% year-over-year growth. APP visit share rose from 6% to 59%, while T2F declined from 15 days to 7 days.

Operational Gains May Help Address Oncology Workforce Challenges

The findings suggest that APP-led benign hematology consult programs can improve patient access while increasing practice efficiency in community oncology settings. By shifting appropriate benign hematology consultations to APPs, physicians may have greater availability for complex oncology care without reducing access for new patients.

Across all participating practices, the model was associated with sustained growth in patient volume, expanded APP engagement, and shorter wait times for initial appointments. The reduction in physician workload observed at 1 practice further suggests that APP-led consults may help optimize workforce utilization while supporting timely care delivery.

Investigators noted that broad APP participation and consistent operational improvements across diverse practice settings demonstrate the model's scalability. They also emphasized that ongoing prospective evaluation will be important to further define its impact and identify best practices for broader implementation.

Researchers Cite Improved Access and Operational Performance

The study authors concluded that APP-led new consult models in benign hematology improved access, operational efficiency, and growth within community oncology settings. They stated that optimizing APP utilization addressed workforce shortages, accelerated time-to-care, and enabled earlier patient triage. The investigators further noted that the sustained growth observed across multiple practices supports broader integration of APP-led consults as a practical approach to addressing gaps in oncology care delivery.

The authors added that continued prospective evaluation will help define the model's long-term impact and inform wider adoption across the oncology landscape.

Community oncology practices continue to seek strategies to meet growing demand amid workforce constraints. This multisite analysis suggests that APP-led benign hematology consult programs may provide a scalable operational model for improving timely access to care while expanding practice capacity and supporting patient-centered oncology services.

Reference

Vella E, Toth S, Rauschenberg E, Fatheree A, Smith D. Impact of advanced practice provider–led new consults in community oncology: expanding access and volume in benign hematology. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(16):5567. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.5567