[Implementation of a remote oncology-monitoring program for cancer patients in outpatient care unit: A major challenge for the different actors]

Introduction: The development of outpatient departments requires health professionals to reorganize practices for a better patient monitoring and a better patient care pathway.

Objective: To evaluate, using indicators, the impact of an oncology-monitoring program on activity and organizational fluidity in a Cytotoxic Preparation Unit and clinical departments. Method the clinical and biological data are collected between two injections by calling the patient two days prior chemotherapy is performed by a specialist nurse of an outsourced medical call center. After medical and pharmaceutical validation, early preparations (D-1) for expensive and non-expensive molecules are performed.

Results: The program is started in February 2016. After 3 months, 382 patients were included into the program. Twenty-three patients on average are called per day related to 1162 completed clinical questionnaires (87%). Among the files, 47% are complete at D-2 (biological and clinical data). The early preparation rate of expensive drugs, zero before the program for financial reasons, has reached 40% at 3 months. The destroyed preparation rate because of non-administration decreased from 5 to 2%.

Discussion: Preliminary results show a significant patient compliance, feasibility of early preparation of expensive and non-expensive chemotherapy. These are preliminary results of a one-year study. They will be completed by an evaluation of patients' and health professionals' satisfaction, evaluation of length of stay, optimization of operations for clinical departments and CPU. The D-2 biological data collection must be improved. A strong doctor/pharmacist collaboration is essential for better patient care pathway.