Oncology Pharmacy in Your Community - CAPhO

2007 | NOPS POSTERS
IMPLEMENTATION OF DOSE BANDING IN BAXTER COMMERCIALLY PREPARED 5-FU INFUSORS WITH SUB-ANALYSIS OF
SAFETY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS
Mr. Rick Abbott, B. Sc (Pharm), Mr. Jonathan Edwards, Pharm Student
Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Center, Eastern Health Cancer Care Program
Purpose: As the incidence of cancer escalates on an annual basis there is a need to revamp existing hospital oncology services.
Pharmaceutical services can be revised to reduce patient waiting times and administration while at the same time promoting safety
by utilizing dose banding.
History: Since 2005 the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Center (DHBMCC) has utilized a home infusion program for the delivery of
5-FU infusional chemotherapy. All 5-FU infusional chemotherapy is prepared based on an agreed upon dose banding chart. Since
May 2007 our center has been dispensing commercially fi lled infusors. To date, 56 patients are participating in the home infusion
program with approximately 85% of these patients receiving their 5-FU chemotherapy from commercially prepared infusors.
Safety: The Institute for Safe Medical Practices has been quoted as saying “use pre-fi lled syringes/bags/cassettes whenever available
commercially.” To ensure a quality product the chemotherapy suite has become fully compliant with USP 797 and has implemented
many of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines.
Cost Considerations: The DHBMCC utilizes approximately 1000 infusers per annum. Commercially pre-fi lled infusors with dose
banding is a cost-effective means of providing a home infusion program.
Contact Information:
Mr. Rick Abbott
Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Center
Eastern Health Cancer Care Program
Sponsor:
Baxter Canada Corporation
NOPS — Oncology Pharmacy in Your Community, October 26-28, 2007
Page 139