The trend toward the centralization of where cancer surgeries are performed puts an increased travel burden on patients, according to new findings reported in this month’s issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Numerous studies show that hospitals that perform a higher number of surgeries per year for a specific diagnosis have better patient outcomes. Especially for rare diagnoses, these high-volume hospitals (HVHs) are highly recommended, and patients are heeding this advice. According to this latest study, the number of procedures performed at HVHs increased significantly over the 10-year period examined (1996-2006).
HVHs tend to be located in larger metropolitan areas that are a longer distance from many patients’ homes, the study shows, especially for patients with esophageal and pancreatic cancers, who endured the highest increase in travel distance from home to the facility where their surgeries were performed.
The cost of traveling farther distances for their care may pose a significant barrier to patients with limited resources, the study’s authors suggest. CancerCare helps by providing limited transportation grants to eligible individuals through our Financial Assistance program. CancerCare also assists multiple myeloma patients with treatment-related transportation costs through our Door to Door program.
