Background
Supply of anticancer medications to regional and remote patients can be complex and can impact patient’s equity of access to high quality pharmaceutical care. Patients receiving cancer treatment through a regional hospital without an on-site pharmacy require careful coordination of the supply chain from several large metropolitan hospitals across the state.
Aim
To realise the full potential of a statewide electronic chemotherapy prescribing system and enable a centralised pharmacy clinical and supply model with a streamlined manufacturing service to a regional hospital.
Method
An audit was conducted to map the number of metropolitan to regional hospital’s anticancer drug supply chains, along with clinical verification of cancer protocols. Utilising the implementation of a statewide electronic chemotherapy prescribing system, pharmacy services partnered together to establish a streamlined delivery service to a regional hospital without an on-site pharmacy department.
Results
Preliminary findings demonstrate a successful implementation with a decrease in medication related incidents and increased staff satisfaction, indicating improved patient care. Centralising chemotherapy manufacture and supply of supportive medicines at a single site has also increased efficiency and led to a 64% reduction in courier costs.
Conclusion
A collaborative workflow was established to optimise pharmacy service delivery to regional hospitals which improved patient outcomes and showed financial benefit. Further evaluation of this approach is required over a longer period with a view to implement a centralised supply model to other regional hospitals.