Team medical care needs to be improved at the outpatient clinic to manage highly complex cancer chemotherapy. In May 2008, Kurashiki Medical Center was the first medical institution in Japan to start a pharmaceutical outpatient clinic called a “support clinic.” At the support clinic, oncology pharmacy specialists interview patients and propose several suitable options of drug regimens to the physicians to ensure safe and effective treatment. We evaluated the functions expected of the support clinic and the appropriateness of health insurance application to the clinic's services.
Physicians and nurses highly evaluated the work of the oncology pharmacy specialists at the support clinic. The function that they expected most of the support clinic was the design of supportive therapies followed by the design of treatment strategies. All 93 patients surveyed said that the support clinic was beneficial to them. Ninety-six percent of the patients considered that the support clinic services were worth paying.
The support clinic has been providing oncology pharmacy specialists with great opportunities to fulfill their potential. Its services are needed by medical professionals and patients who want improved outpatient cancer treatment.
