Temple Health announced on March 10 that it has implemented an automated infusion template generator across its infusion centers to help cancer patients receive treatment more quickly and efficiently. The new system aims to speed up appointment scheduling and reduce wait times for those undergoing infusion treatments.
The introduction of this technology is significant because timely access to cancer care can be critical for patient outcomes. By streamlining the scheduling process, Temple Health hopes to improve both the patient experience and resource utilization at its facilities.
Jennifer Hansell, MBA, Director of Epic Revenue Cycle for Temple Health’s IT Department, said, “This is one of the most vulnerable times in a patient’s life. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you want to get an appointment as soon as possible, because your life can depend on it. The infusion template generator is getting more patients—and members of our community—through our doors so they can receive the treatment they need.”
Katie Licata Deschaine, Vice President of Clinical Applications in IT, explained that the new tool has led to faster appointments and reduced wait times. “Thanks to this new tool, patients can get appointments faster, wait times have been reduced, and infusion chair utilization has increased,” she said. At Fox Chase Cancer Center at Chestnut Hill Hospital—the first site where the system was implemented—there was a 15% increase in schedule utilization from initial rollout through January 2026. Deschaine added that the department logged 59 more visits in January than during its first month of operation and now cares for an average of 3.4 additional patients each day.
Previously, Temple Health’s multiple infusion centers used different scheduling systems. The new generator uses artificial intelligence within Epic software to analyze data and make informed decisions about matching patients with available chairs and nurses based on their specific treatment needs. Hansell explained that this approach considers factors such as treatment complexity and nurse expertise when assigning appointments.
Deschaine emphasized that improving patient experience was central to adopting this technology: “By adopting the infusion template generator, we’re innovating in this space, but we did this because it was best for our patients. We wanted them to have the most positive infusion experience possible.” Hansell added that leveraging AI allows Temple Health to tailor services more closely to individual needs while increasing efficiency: “In this case, we’re leveraging AI to tailor our infusion services to the patient’s needs—and by improving scheduling efficiency and cutting down on wait and lead times, we can care for more members of our community.”
The broader impact of these changes may include improved access for cancer patients across several Temple Health locations offering chemotherapy, immunotherapy, non-chemotherapy infusions, hydration services, blood product transfusions, and bone marrow transplant programs.
