A pilot led by researchers from Jacksonville-based Mayo Clinic in Florida found that chemotherapy can be administered at home safely and with high patient satisfaction, according to a study published March 18 in NEJM Catalyst.
Mayo Clinic’s Cancer CARE Beyond Walls program combines virtual care, remote patient monitoring and in-home clinical services. The study details findings from the program’s pilot phase from April 1 to Aug. 31, 2023.
Here are five things to know from the study:
- The program enrolled 10 patients who received a total of 93 intravenous chemotherapy infusions, collectively, at home during the pilot.
- The program utilized a virtual command center to enable intervention through mobile care teams when necessary.
- There were no infusion reactions or catheter-related infections during the pilot period.
Two cases of hypokalemia and two unrelated falls occurred, but were successfully managed in the home setting. - “Most participants surveyed reported high satisfaction with at-home care and said they would recommend the model to others,” according to a March 19 news release from Mayo Clinic.
- Mayo Clinic is continuing to enroll patients in a clinical trial evaluating safety, patient experience, outcomes and costs associated with home-based chemotherapy compared with standard infusion care.
Read the full study here.
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