Objective To explore the relationship between distance traveled and rurality to clinical timepoints and 2‐year disease free survival (DFS) in newly diagnosed HNC patients. Methods This study was conducted through retrospective analysis, with key independent variables including distance to academic medical center and rurality score. To better understand delays in care, the sample was divided into two groups based on an optimal treatment timeline. We then assessed for the impact of distance traveled. Results A higher proportion of patients in the optimal treatment timeline group resided in metropolitan areas, which also had a lower mean index of medically underserviced score. Patients in this group had a shorter duration from first presentation for HNC to presentation to an academic medical center and a shorter duration from referral to presentation. However, there was no significant difference in 2‐year DFS between the groups. Those who lived closest to Upstate were more likely to identify as Black. Those who live in suburban communities around Upstate were most likely to initiate treatment within 1 month of presentation. Those who live farthest from Upstate were the least likely to have an HPV‐negative cancer of the head and neck, and more likely to receive surgery as part of treatment and to receive a biopsy prior to presenting to Upstate. Conclusions Despite differences in distance traveled and rurality between communities, there was no impact on 2‐year DFS. Together, we suggest that these findings support that socioeconomic and patient factors, instead of travel distance alone, impact HNC workup patterns. Level of Evidence Level III.
ObjectivesTo explore the effect of e‐prescribing requirements on narcotic dispersion in New York State.Slicer Dicer was used to identify patient records based on CPT codes.MethodsWe investigated the influence of New York State e‐prescribing requirements on narcotic dispersion following five common facial plastics procedures. Slicer Dicer was used to identify patient records based on CPT codes.We then looked at narcotic prescription rates following those surgeries between March 2014 and March 2018 at an academic institution.ResultsOverall, between March 2014 and March 2018, 76.1% of the sample received a narcotic prescription following a facial reconstructive plastic surgery. Patients who underwent rhinoplasty were most likely to receive a prescription for postoperative narcotics. The implementation of ISTOP, CPT code, use of non‐narcotic adjuvant, and insurance type were each significantly associated with prescription of postoperative narcotics. Surgery time and age in years were significantly associated with prescription of postoperative narcotics. Ultimately, when controlling for the aforementioned clinical and sociodemographic variables included in the study, those who underwent surgery after the implementation of ISTOP were 42.8% less likely to receive a prescription for postoperative narcotics, aOR = 0.572, 95% CI 0.356, 0.919, p = 0.021.ConclusionsNew York State's ISTOP program has succeeded in reducing the number of postoperative narcotic prescriptions following facial plastic reconstructive surgeries at this academic institution. However, opioid medications can still be utilized for postoperative analgesia when clinically appropriate.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 2023
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