OhioHealth Opens Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic

Key Takeaways:

• OhioHealth has opened a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic
• The clinic is designed to help reduce uncertainty by helping patients with concerning symptoms, abnormal imaging or lab results, or provider referrals get answers sooner.
• Patients receive coordinated support in one place, with a team that helps organize testing, referrals and next steps instead of leaving patients to navigate multiple appointments alone.
• An appointment does not mean a cancer diagnosis; the goal is to investigate concerns, determine the cause and connect patients to appropriate care using evidence-based national guidelines.

When cancer is suspected, waiting for results can feel like a lifetime. The new OhioHealth Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic helps shorten that wait time by connecting patients with coordinated testing and specialists sooner.

The clinic, which is located inside the Bing Cancer Center, opened on July 6 and serves as a centralized point of access for patients who have experienced abnormal image or lab results, a new lump, mass, or swelling, unexplained weight loss or a referral from a provider. Rather than scheduling multiple appointments through many websites and facilities, the team at the clinic helps organize further testings and referrals to streamline the process.

“One of the hardest parts for patients isn’t always the diagnosis itself, but the uncertainty that comes before it. The clinic will help shorten that period of waiting by giving patients one team to guide them through the process and help find answers as quickly as possible,” said Meghan Newman, PA-C, Director, Advanced Practice Providers.

It is important to note that having or creating an appointment at the clinic does not mean you have cancer. The clinic investigates symptoms or previous findings to determine if cancer is the cause, and facilitates the next steps of finding appropriate care.

If the test results find that the patient does have cancer or another condition, the team will create a personalized care plan as quickly as possible and connect you directly to the treatment team. The clinic follows evidence-based guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to give trustworthy evaluations and access to care.

“Every patient's situation and experience is different, which is why our team makes sure that we use a thoughtful and evidence-based approach during evaluations,” Newman said. “We want patients to know they can trust that their care is guided by national standards and supported by experienced specialists every step of the way.”

The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic is now accepting referrals from healthcare providers, and patients can also contact the clinic directly to schedule an evaluation.

Click here to learn more information about the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic.