key: cord-0932792-sv3m4wbn
authors: Deepak, Sundriyal; Amit, Sehrawat; Gupta, Manoj
title: Running an oncology day-care with guts and glory
date: 2020-08-26
journal: Med Oncol
DOI: 10.1007/s12032-020-01410-9
sha: e656f31cb838e2c2bae976a38a7cbbc33a157a24
doc_id: 932792
cord_uid: sv3m4wbn

nan

and teleconsultation. In case a new sign or symptoms or deterioration in PS, or a condition demanding a review of treatment, was detected or, a response assessment or a new investigation was required, the patient was advised to report to the outpatient department (OPD). Since the weather was humid and hot, it was difficult for the healthcare staff to work continuously at a stretch with the personal protective equipment. Timings of the day-care were limited to only 6 h a day, and only single shift was allowed. Patients were asked to reach day-care early in the morning at a stipulated time so as to finish all chemotherapies in time. Patients were screened for any signs and symptoms related to viral infection and referred to screening OPD, if any. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic patients' prior chemotherapy was not considered as chemotherapy runs in multiple cycles and it was not feasible and cost-effective to mandate a test prior to every cycle of chemotherapy. Supportive care drugs were prescribed in the protocol and a copy of the protocol was given to the patient in their vernacular language. Emphasis was laid on strict universal precautions, use of face mask, and physical distancing. Point of care, starting from the admission process, administration of chemotherapy, discharge sheet preparation and counselling, was restricted to a single location in day-care, thus minimising patient's and attendant's movement. Patients were told to call the respective faculty if any adverse event post chemotherapy and supportive care was advised telephonically wherever possible.

We have a bed strength of 18 in the newly created daycare centre. We have a total of 23 day-care healthcare workers, which include doctors, nurses, and other ancillary staff. We admitted 225 patients in the day-care during the last 6 weeks and carried out 595 sessions of chemotherapies since the inception of new day-care facility. We reported zero SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare staff and patients in the last 6 weeks of starting the day-care. We hope to continue the show with the same zeal in the future.

Determinants of COVID-19 disease severity in patients with cancer

Cancer is associated with severe disease in COVID-19 patients: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Ecancermedicalscience

COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer

Funding: None.

Conflict of interest The authors state that they do not have any conflicts of interest.