As a Patient Navigator at 1104Health, I see it every day: patients—especially those with rare, late-stage, or treatment-resistant cancers—struggle to access the specialized expertise and clinical trial options that could save or extend their lives.
It’s surprising that in an age of AI, telehealth, and digital records, the biggest gap still comes down to communication—and a lack of compassion in care coordination.
Here are the most common barriers I see:
Limited Access to Subspecialists
Too many patients never get referred to academic centers or NCI-designated institutions.
Lack of Clinical Trial Awareness
More than 70% of cancer patients are never even told that trials could be an option.
Fragmented Communication
Patients are forced to chase down their own records and navigate siloed providers alone.
Insurance & Cost Barriers
Out-of-network issues, prior authorizations, and high costs prevent timely care.
Geographic and Socioeconomic Disparities
Rural patients often don’t have access to specialists or trials—and travel adds strain.
Delays in Molecular Testing
Weeks can go by waiting for tests that guide targeted therapy—or they never happen.
Navigation Gaps
Patients are overwhelmed, uninformed, and unsupported without someone to guide them.
What can help?
- Platforms like 1104Health, which connect oncologists with subspecialists and trials in real time.
- Education for local oncologists on evolving options.
- Streamlined data-sharing and AI-powered case matching.
- Policy reform to make access equitable and efficient.
If we truly want to improve outcomes, we must remove these barriers—and return to a care model where the patient comes first.
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