COVID-19 prompts rapid and safe transition of chemotherapy into homes
Andrew S. Vanlint
A C , Julie Adams B and Timothy Price A
A Central Adelaide Local Health Network, 1 Port Rd, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Email: timothy.price@sa.gov.au
B Chemo@Home, PO Box 378, North Perth, WA 6906, Australia. Email: julie.adams@chemoathome.com.au
C Corresponding author. Email: andrew.vanlint@adelaide.edu.au
Australian Health Review 45(6) 782-783 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH21250
Submitted: 2 August 2021 Accepted: 9 August 2021 Published: 8 October 2021
Journal Compilation © AHHA 2021 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
With the identification of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, cancer-based clinical services in South Australia moved quickly to protect patients on active anti-cancer treatment who are particularly vulnerable to infective complications. This took the form of shifting 600 chemotherapy visits into the patients’ homes via expansion of an existing arrangement between a public hospital network and an established private home chemotherapy service. Despite calls for caution from some oncology organisations and a relative paucity in specific clinical data supporting this approach, it proved to be a safe and efficient transition with additional unexpected benefits.
Keywords: COVID-19, home chemotherapy administration, cancer therapy delivery, in-home services, Australia, public–private health partnership, hospitals, models of care.
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