Implementation of a hospital-at-home (HAH) unit for hematological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: safety and feasibility.
Int J Hematol
; 115(1): 61-68, 2022 Jan.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1432631
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
"Hospital-at-home" (HAH) programs have been shown to optimize resource utilization, shorten hospitalization and prevent nosocomial infection.METHODS:
We retrospectively analysed data regarding implementation of an HAH unit for caring patients with hematological malignancies in our center, during the COVID-19 pandemic.RESULTS:
Between January and November 2020, 105 patients were treated in the HAH unit for a total of 204 episodes. Nine patients with multiple myeloma (MM) received autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT). Three patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received consolidation therapy, 32 patients underwent clinical and analytical monitoring, 20 were transplant recipients early discharged (5 auto-HSCT and 15 allo-HSCT) and 2 had received CART cells therapy. Azacitidine, bortezomib and carfilzomib were administered at home to 54 patients with AML, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or MM. A median of 17 (IQR 13-19) days of admission per patient and a total of 239 visits to the Hematology day-care hospital were avoided. Overall, 28 patients (14% of all episodes) needed admission to the hospital, 4 of them due to COVID-19.CONCLUSIONS:
Implementation of a Hematology HAH unit was feasible and safe, and provided thorough advanced care to a high-risk population. Advanced care-at-home strategies can be crucial during times of COVID-19 to minimize treatment interruptions and reduce the risk of cross-infections.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Continuity of Patient Care
/
Hematologic Neoplasms
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Hematol
Journal subject:
Hematology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12185-021-03219-2
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