Background: Efficient management of anti-cancer treatments is crucial to improve patient safety and clinic workflow, and reduce patient chair time and medication waste. Traditionally, treatment initiation is delayed if patients await same-day bloods, leading to suboptimal chair utilisation.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of a cancer pharmacist completing clinical verification using recent bloods through an electronic chemotherapy prescribing system (iQemo), on cancer outpatient day centre (ODC) workflows and patient care.
Methods: The daily workflow of cancer pharmacists in the ODC was systemically reviewed and modified to include verification of daily bloods for all patients prescribed chemotherapy in iQemo. Cancer pharmacists proactively reviewed blood results the evening prior to treatment and promptly communicated any identified abnormalities, missing results, potential toxicities, or required dose modifications to prescribers or nurse unit managers (NUMs). Unavailable bloods were verified the following morning. Qualitative data and number of pharmacist interventions were obtained over three months.
Results: Preliminary data collected from iQemo and medical and nursing surveys, found these interventions positively impacted clinical care. NUMs provided qualitative feedback on improvements in patient scheduling efficiency, reduced chair time and improved patient experience. Early review and adjustment of chemotherapy doses minimised disruptions to medical clinics and reduced chemotherapy waste.
Conclusion: Integrating cancer pharmacist bloods checks through iQemo functionality enhances patient safety, optimises pre-administration chemotherapy management and improves interdisciplinary communication. This proactive approach enhances patient care, mitigates treatment delays and optimises healthcare resources.
This pilot study reviewed preliminary results from a single site. The workflow has been implemented within pharmacy services using iQemo, across 13 metropolitan and regional sites. Â Subsequently, this study will be expanded to evaluate further impact across all sites. Widespread adoption with a consistent approach implemented statewide, may lead to overall better patient outcomes, lower healthcare costs and an improved experience for patients and providers.