An innovative model of delivering cancer care in the community: the experience of a tertiary cancer centre in Singapore.
ESMO Open
; 9(7): 103633, 2024 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38970841
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Cancer care has evolved rapidly, increasing the demand on healthcare resources. While many non-oral cancer treatments are administered in the hospital, not all necessitate complex medical care. Treatments that can be administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or as short intravenous infusions with a low risk of extravasation can be safely administered in the community. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
Since 2017, the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) has operated a program called NCIS on-the-go (NOTG) comprising a network of community cancer treatment clinics located within 20 km of the hospital. NOTG provides 17 low-risk treatments and nursing services run by oncology-trained nurses without on-site physicians. Patients who receive their first dose of cancer treatment uneventfully in the cancer centre can opt-in to receive subsequent doses at any NOTG clinic.RESULTS:
Treatment at NOTG has become more mainstream over the years, with its workload increasing by over sevenfold since 2017, and is now responsible for â¼10% of the total main cancer centre workload. The program is sustainable and financially viable to operate. A survey of 155 patients revealed a 96.8% user satisfaction rate, with the majority reporting tangible savings in travelling time, waiting time, and travelling costs. The diversion of low-risk treatments to NOTG has indirectly increased capacity and reduced waiting times at the main cancer centre for patients requiring complex cancer treatments, resulting in a win-win situation.CONCLUSIONS:
NOTG represents an innovative model of care to deliver low-risk cancer treatments safely in the community and can be easily replicated in other countries.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tertiary Care Centers
/
Neoplasms
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
ESMO Open
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Singapore
Country of publication:
United kingdom