2 Out of 3 Cancer Centers Are Still Struggling with Staffing Shortages

What You Should Know:

• LeanTaaS, Inc., the market leader in providing AI-powered and SaaS-based capacity management, staffing, and patient flow software for health systems, today announced the release of its annual The State of Cancer Centers in 2023 Special Report, capturing the firsthand experiences and insights of nearly 100 nursing directors and operational leaders from a diverse set of cancer centers nationwide.
• The survey aims to identify industry trends, understand the contemporary challenges plaguing cancer centers, and uncover the transformative potential of AI-driven technology to address these issues. The top three focus areas that are ripe for AI-driven transformation are ongoing staffing shortages, operational constraints, and access to data and AI in healthcare.

New Survey Finds Nearly Two Out of Three Infusion Centers Are Still Struggling with Staff Shortages

Key findings from the survey include:

● 64% of infusion centers say staffing shortages are still causing challenges, with centers reporting a 15% increase year-over-year in higher nurse-to-patient ratios and 13% increase year-over-year in longer patient wait times

● 51% of infusion centers experience overbooking frequently, very frequently or almost always

● 49% of infusion centers are actively pursuing growth and expanding their service lines, signaling a major shift away from pandemic restrictions

● 40% of infusion centers say the biggest barrier to days running smoothly is unbalanced schedules with too many appointments in the middle of the day

● 40% of infusion centers say the biggest gap in using data for operational decision making is data being difficult to access

● 31% of infusion centers would consider using AI to improve their operations but they do not know of any tools that do so, and 26% have concerns around AI’s safety and security

“Infusion centers are one of the most critical areas of the healthcare ecosystem, yet they are still grappling with a multitude of operational challenges and resource constraints that impact day-to-day workflows, nurse satisfaction, and patient care,” said Ashley Joseph, VP of Client Services, Infusion Centers at LeanTaaS. “With nearly two thirds of respondents struggling with staff shortages and half of respondents pursuing growth, the only way to accommodate patient demand in this highly constrained environment is to unlock capacity and resources through a combination of AI, automation, and smart operational choices.”

The American Cancer Society reports approximately 5,365 new cancer cases diagnosed daily in the U.S., reaching nearly 2 million cases in 2023. Crafting infusion schedules is intricately challenging, considering operational constraints, nurse schedules, and patient requirements. iQueue for Infusion Centers, a cloud-based solution, leverages AI and predictive analytics to optimize schedules, proactively identify issues, and enhance the overall patient and staff experience. This system efficiently maximizes staffing resources, resulting in a 50% reduction in overtime, a 15% increase in patients served, and a 30% decrease in wait times. Users also realize an additional $20,000 per chair annually, improved nurse satisfaction, reduced burnout, and the preservation of scarce nursing resources. With over 600 infusion centers adopting it, including 80% of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and 55% of National Cancer Institute members, iQueue for Infusion Centers significantly improves access, reduces wait times, and lowers healthcare costs.

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