From Test to Treatment: Closing the Final Mile in Patient Care
Diagnostic testing has transformed how we detect disease, offering earlier insights and more targeted treatment options. But even when a patient has an actionable result from the diagnostic test and or biomarker the journey to therapy is often disrupted, leaving many without access to the treatments they need.
A Confidence Gap at the Point of Care
Despite the availability of diagnostic and biomarker testing, many physicians, especially those outside of specialist centers, struggle to interpret complex biomarker findings. This uncertainty can delay or derail treatment decisions. Traditional educational approaches, such as webinars or static resources, often fail to reach clinicians at the critical moment when decisions are being made.
The impact is significant: up to 64% of eligible patients are lost along the treatment pathway (Sadik et al., JCO 2022). That’s not just a breakdown in communication, it’s a missed opportunity for better outcomes for patients.
The Power of Early Detection
As Dr. Michelle Shiller noted in our recent webinar:
“We are ultimately going to win this war on cancer from a testing perspective... detecting cancer early stage, more and more, that is the best hope for a cure.”
While early detection is a powerful tool, it’s only the beginning. The real challenge lies in ensuring that test results lead to timely, informed decisions that move patients forward in their care journey.
Yet hesitation among physicians remains a barrier. Diagnostic uncertainty in primary care can lead to emotional stress and defensive practices, such as ordering more tests or delaying treatment decisions (Alam et al., BCM Primary Care Practice 2017). A scoping review also found that junior doctors often overestimate their prescribing competence, while pharmacists, though trained, report low confidence in prescribing, especially in complex cases (Woit et al., IJPP 2020).
A New Model for Real-Time Support
To bridge this critical gap, innovative solutions are needed that deliver support exactly when and where it’s needed. DXRX Expert Exchange is doing just that - connecting treating physicians with expert pathologists within 48 hours of a test result. It’s a peer-to-peer, just-in-time educational model that empowers clinicians to confidently act on biomarker findings.
The outcomes speak volumes:
- 86% engagement rate
- 89% of healthcare professionals report improved understanding of biomarker utility
- Demonstrated changes in real-world prescribing behavior
- *Data insights sourced from Diaceutics’ client projects
Turning Insight into Action
Timely, peer-driven education, combined with intelligent alerts and personalized support is proving to be one of the most effective ways to ensure that test insights lead to action. DXRX Signal, Physician Engage and Expert Exchange are helping clinicians make confident decisions so that more patients receive the therapies they need.
By closing the final mile between test and treatment, we’re not just improving clinical workflows, we’re improving lives.
If you're looking to improve treatment pathways and ensure patients receive the care they deserve, talk to our experts today.
