COVID-19 prompts rapid and safe transition of chemotherapy into homes

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.