If a mammography report indicates a mass on 8/15/2024, but the final diagnosis comes on 8/21/2024, what is the date of first contact at your facility?

The date of first contact at your facility is determined by the date when the patient was first evaluated for the condition that is being diagnosed. In this scenario, the mammography report indicating a mass dates back to 8/15/2024. However, the final diagnosis, which signifies the formal acknowledgment of the findings identified during the evaluation, comes on 8/21/2024.

The final diagnosis date is considered the first contact for reporting purposes since it reflects when the medical facility made a definitive assessment of the patient's condition following the evaluation that began with the mammography. This is pertinent in oncology-related data collection as it aligns with the methods for tracking patient care and treatment timelines. Therefore, date of first contact in the context of this evaluation process is the date the final diagnosis is established, which is 8/21/2024.