Establishment of Risk Management System for Chemotherapy in Outpatient Oncology Unit

Abstract

The Outpatient Oncology Unit of Kyoto University Hospital was established in October, 2003 with the aim of conducting chemotherapy for outpatients more safely and effectively. The unit comprises 4 doctors and 3 nurses and 2 pharmacists are always on hand to prepare all the injections used for chemotherapy, which include anticancer drugs. When the Outpatient Oncology Unit was established, 63 regimens were selected from among those which had been used for outpatient chemotherapy in various departments. These regimens are used as the basis for prescribing anticancer drugs. The day before chemotherapy, all drugs are placed in a separate box for each patient and then pharmacists check the prescriptions to see whether the dosage and administration interval are correct based on the regimen. When there are any doubts, prescriptions are checked with the doctors of the Outpatient Oncology Unit. In October 2003, 457 patients were treated in the Outpatient Oncology Unit, and we prepared 1, 765 injections, which included 764 anti-cancer drugs.
We feel that it is important for pharmacists to participate in outpatient chemotherapy and communicate with the doctors and nurses involved to improve risk management.