Interview with Dr. Lisa Attebery: Care Transitions: Why the Critical Window in Cancer Care Lies Between Appointments

Most cancer patients experience their worst anxiety not during surgery, but in the days between diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Lisa Atterbury, a board-certified breast surgical oncologist with 18 years of experience, and Dr. Dupree, a breast radiologist, walk through the specific operational breakdowns that turn clinical delays into worse outcomes. They explain why the standard discharge instruction model fails, how 48-hour biopsy windows correlate with patient outcomes, and why post-operative ER visits often signal gaps in structured follow-up rather than true emergencies. This episode offers a clinical operations perspective on patient navigation, caregiver coordination, and the friction points that health systems can address without adding headcount. If you manage cancer programs or surgical services, this is a rare look at how two clinicians think about the space between appointments. Episode Contents 00:00 NovaNav Introduction 01:02 Guest Introduction: Dr. Lisa Attebery 02:43 What clinicians often miss between appointments 06:40 Common post-op issues patients face at home 08:52 How technology can support patients before and after surgery 11:54 Why delays in care can worsen outcomes 15:43 Reducing unnecessary ER visits with better guidance 18:18 Redesigning the space between appointments 20:33 The first days after diagnosis: delivering news with hope 22:05 Biggest friction points in the cancer journey 24:58 Access challenges, workforce strain, and rural care realities 28:08 Mobile mammography and meeting patients where they are 29:13 The role of families and caregivers in cancer care 32:27 What it means to care for breast patients for life 35:11 Closing Remarks