The American Cancer Society projects 5,800 new cancer diagnoses each day, adding pressure to cancer and infusion centers that already care for an estimated 650,000 to 1 million U.S. patients annually. According to LeanTaaS’ State of Cancer Centers in 2026 report, high demand is outpacing staffing and contributing to high staff burnout rates. The report points to a growing challenge for oncology leaders: how to expand access to care while protecting staff from burnout and maintaining financial sustainability.
The report, based on a national survey of nearly 300 cancer center and infusion center leaders across community health centers, academic health centers, private practices and non-oncology infusion centers, points to a shift in how organizations are responding to rising demand. As many cancer centers plan to expand services or add new programs in 2026, leaders are increasingly looking to capacity management, operational technology and AI-enabled solutions to improve access to care while reducing pressure on care teams.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said their centers plan to grow and add new services in 2026, up from 53% in 2025. However, more than twice as many respondents identified scheduling and capacity management tools as their most important requirement for growth than those who cited the need for additional clinical staff.
Together, the findings suggest cancer centers are increasingly pursuing growth through optimization: serving more patients by making better use of existing capacity rather than simply adding resources.
Other key findings from the report include:
- Nearly one-third of cancer centers (29%) listed high patient volume as the top contributor to burnout, followed by inadequate staffing at 19%.
- 40% identified scheduling and capacity management tools as the most important requirement for growth, compared with 18% citing more clinical staff.
- 44% believe AI and advanced technology would be most helpful in scheduling and capacity management.
- 40% said last-minute shift or coverage adjustments consume the most time and contribute to staff stress.
- 92% reported limitations with current data systems or EHRs, creating added friction for operational decision-making.
Capacity optimization is becoming a growth strategy for cancer centers
Taken together, the findings suggest AI and operational technology are emerging less as future-facing innovation projects and more as practical tools for managing capacity, staffing workflows and patient access.
“What’s striking is that cancer centers aren’t primarily asking for more resources — they’re asking for better ways to manage the resources they already have,” said Mohan Giridharadas, founder and CEO of LeanTaaS. “The findings suggest that operational strain is increasingly becoming a workforce issue. As centers find themselves increasingly squeezed on capacity, the burden falls on care teams. Leaders are looking for ways to reduce that friction so centers can maintain access and clinicians can focus on patient care.”
For cancer and infusion center leaders, the opportunity is to move beyond short-term fixes and build more predictable, data-driven operations that can support growth without adding unnecessary strain to care teams. With data science, predictive analytics and AI-powered decision support, infusion operations can shift from reactive “Tetris management” to more proactive planning — anticipating constraints, smoothing demand and better aligning staffing with expected patient volume and treatment complexity.
As demand continues to rise, proactive resource optimization will be a key lever for protecting access, supporting staff and creating the operational foundation for sustainable growth.
Download the State of Cancer Centers in 2026 report to explore the complete findings.
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