We understand the challenges many patients endure to receive chemotherapy—whether they live down the street or hundreds of miles from our hospitals. That’s why, at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), we strive to make chemotherapy infusions and injections as comfortable and convenient as possible—including by giving qualifying patients the option of receiving these treatments at home.
With our Oncology Clinic at Home (OCH), patients who meet certain criteria can receive specific chemotherapy or immunotherapy infusion or injections without leaving the comfort of their own couch. Instead, the drugs and the sophisticated equipment needed to administer them and monitor your progress are delivered directly to your door, in a safe, comprehensive process that is facilitated by an in-person oncology-trained nurse and overseen by your care team.
Convenience
- No need for you or a caregiver to take off work or travel for treatment
- Time saved by working with your schedule
- Money saved by eliminating unnecessary travel expenses
- Treatments administered in the privacy and comfort of your home
Safety
- Treatments delivered and supervised by chemotherapy-trained home health nurses wearing PPE
- Your vital signs and progress monitored with equipment provided by OCH
- Reduced risk of exposure to COVID-19 by not having to leave the safety of home
Wrap-around care
- An extension of the quality care you expect from CTCA
- Continual contact with your care team using telehealth technology
- Side effects regularly monitored and managed
Currently, OCH is available only to qualifying patients treating at CTCA® Atlanta. OCH services may soon be expanding to treat more patients in more locations. Check with your care team to see if and when services may be available to you.
Patient safety is our priority
OCH services are designed with patient safety in mind.
With OCH:
- Chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs are delivered in safe, no-touch packages.
- Cancer treatments are administered by licensed nurses trained in chemotherapy administration based on Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) guidelines.
- You will be provided with state-of-the-art, remote patient-monitoring equipment so your care team can regularly track your vital signs.
- Before the treatment, you will be informed, in detail, about how OCH works and what to expect.
- You will be empowered to contact your care team with questions and concerns, especially if you are experiencing side effects from treatment.
Who’s eligible for OCH?
Oncology Clinic at Home services provided by CTCA are evolving and are not available to all patients. Check with your care team to find out if OCH is available to you.
To qualify for OCH services, patients must:
- Be in good health and have shown they can tolerate their medications in an in-patient setting
- Be treated with specific types of chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs
- Live in a state that allows in-home cancer infusion treatments
- Have reliable internet service
- Own and be comfortable using a laptop, computer, smartphone or tablet
- Have at-home infusions covered by their insurance policy
OCH may not be available to patients with certain cancers. But the chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs that are permitted to be delivered with OCH are approved to treat many of the most common cancers, including:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Colorectal cancer
- Some GU cancers
How OCH works
- Before determining if you are eligible for OCH, you must receive your first infusion or injection at a CTCA hospital or outpatient care center.
- If you tolerate your treatment well and meet other criteria, you are considered eligible for enrollment in OCH to receive treatment in the home. Your care team will provide detailed information and instructions on how the program works and what to expect.
- CTCA delivers the necessary equipment to your home. Your chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs are delivered separately. Instructions on handling, including whether or not refrigeration is needed, will be communicated to you.
- When it is time for your treatment, a licensed nurse, trained in oncology care based on ONS guidelines, will visit your home, open your delivered drugs and safely administer your infusion or injection.
- You will be connected to your care team at key points during your at-home care to monitor your vital signs and assess the development, frequency and severity of any side effects.
- If you are experiencing side effects, your care team will work with you to manage them.
- Your usual on-site care will continue as directed by your CTCA physician and care team for all other necessary treatment plans.
CTCA uses Microsoft® Teams to conduct some telehealth visits and services. MS Teams allows users to communicate via chat, video conference and other features. Before participating in OCH, you’ll be instructed on how to download and use MS Teams.
Patients are instructed on what to do if they have concerns about their treatments or if they are experiencing concerning side effects or have other conditions that may worsen with treatment.
CTCA Anywhere
OCH is among the growing number telehealth services provided by CTCA Anywhere®, our virtual visit technology that delivers expert cancer care to qualifying patients, where and when they need it.
CTCA Anywhere allows eligible patients to meet remotely with their oncologists and other members of their care team. Patients may also receive services such as genetic counseling or nutritional consultations, all delivered safely and securely in the comfort of home.
All CTCA Anywhere services, including OCH, comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Questions and assistance
If you are an OCH or CTCA Anywhere patient and have questions about the program, reach out directly to your care team.
If you have questions about telehealth, contact our telehealth support team:
Patient Telehealth Support Hotline: 800.234.0577
Telehealth Support Email: CTCATelehealthSupport@ctca-hope.com
