ABSTRACT
SUMMARY The first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brasil was reported on February 25th, 2020, and by April 3rd, 8076 were confirmed in the country. As COVID-19 disease incidence escalates in Brasil, management of cancer patients requires immediate action and oncology clinics are urged to establish a contingency plan. We have installed a COVID-19 Management Committee to elaborate and implement best practices to assist cancer outpatients as well as to provide a safe environment for clinical staff and other employees at the outpatient clinics. The challenges of cancer treatment in the midst of COVID-19 global pandemic highlight the importance of a rapid response by institutions, where organizational structure, strategic planning, agility in guidelines implementation and alternative ways to protect and support clinical staff, employees and patients may be the key to mitigate pandemic effects. RESUMO O primeiro caso confirmado de Doença Associada ao Coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19) no Brasil foi confirmado em 25 de fevereiro de 2020 e em 3 de abril já haviam 8076 casos confirmados no país. A medida que a incidência de COVID-19 aumenta no Brasil, o tratamento de pacientes com câncer exige ação imediata e as clínicas oncológicas são instadas a estabelecer um plano de contingência. Instalamos um Comitê de Manejo de COVID-19 para elaborar e implementar as melhores práticas para ajudar pacientes ambulatoriais com câncer, bem como proporcionar um ambiente seguro para a equipe clínica e outros funcionários das clínicas ambulatoriais. Os desafios do tratamento do câncer em meio à pandemia global do COVID-19 destacam a importância de uma resposta rápida das instituições, onde a estrutura organizacional, o planejamento estratégico, a agilidade na implementação de diretrizes e formas alternativas de proteger e apoiar a equipe clínica, funcionários e pacientes podem ser a chave para mitigar os efeitos da pandemia.
ABSTRACT
The first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brasil was reported on February 25th, 2020, and by April 3rd, 8076 were confirmed in the country. As COVID-19 disease incidence escalates in Brasil, management of cancer patients requires immediate action and oncology clinics are urged to establish a contingency plan. We have installed a COVID-19 Management Committee to elaborate and implement best practices to assist cancer outpatients as well as to provide a safe environment for clinical staff and other employees at the outpatient clinics. The challenges of cancer treatment in the midst of COVID-19 global pandemic highlight the importance of a rapid response by institutions, where organizational structure, strategic planning, agility in guidelines implementation and alternative ways to protect and support clinical staff, employees and patients may be the key to mitigate pandemic effects.