Traditional chemotherapy delivery often requires frequent hospital visits, which can be burdensome for patients and health services, particularly in regional settings. To address these challenges, GRICS established collaborative partnerships to develop a robust process for home-based chemotherapy administration for multiple myeloma patients. This project represents a transformative approach in cancer care delivery and promotes patient quality of life.
This project aims to improve patient care and accessibility by enabling eligible multiple myeloma patients to self-administer bortezomib subcutaneously in the home or receive it in the community via general practitioner (GP) or general practice nurse (GPN), where applicable.
A secondary aim is to improve appointment availability of other chemotherapy treatments within health services across Gippsland.
Project implementation involved several critical steps:
Policy development: The development of a robust policy and patient education guidelines in collaboration with health service stakeholders, with clearly defined responsibilities.
Cross-department collaboration: Effective partnerships established between GRICS, haematologists, haematology nursing staff, chemotherapy unit, and oncology pharmacy at the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre. Strong partnerships and implementation responsibilities ensure procedures are duplicable and sustainable, regardless of workforce changes.
Patient recruitment and education: Recruitment will be integrated into the haematology appointment processes, with education materials included in pre-education practices within the local chemotherapy unit to equip patients for a smoother transition to home-based care.
This project demonstrates the processes required to offer alternate treatment delivery, improving accessibility to treatment for eligible patients. With intentions to expand this service within the region and across different subcutaneous treatments, we aim to further enhance service delivery and support patients in managing their treatment close to home. This approach optimises healthcare resources and aligns with patients’ lifestyles, ultimately leading to a more patient-centred care model.