An Innovative Organization MODEL to Face Risks Reduction Challenges in an Italian Cancer Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Risk Reduction Estimation Study
Author(s)
Gentili N1, Roncadori A2, Massa I3, Florescu C4, Bertoni L3, Galardi F5, Bucchi L5, Grossi V6, Vespignani R6, Jani A7, Cerchione C3, Falcini F5, Altini M8
1IRST IRCCS, MELDOLA, FC, Italy, 2IRST IRCCS, Bologna, BO, Italy, 3IRST IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy, 4Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, FC, Italy, 5IRST IRCCS, Meldola, Italy, 6IRST IRCSS, Meldola, Italy, 7University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, 8Outcome Research, Healthcare Administration, IRST IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
OBJECTIVES: In this Covid-19 pandemic, onco-hematological patients are at higher risk of severe infection because of both their immunosuppressive state caused by malignancy and treatments and their recurrent hospital accesses. At our cancer centre (IRST), following national authorities and scientific societies recommendations, we set up a model for reduction of risk of Covid-19 positive accesses through sequential actions on patients, caregivers and workers. In this work we give an estimate of reduction of risk of Covid-19 positive accesses. METHODS: Covid-19 positive accesses baseline Absolute Risk (AR, ratio between the number of infected subjects accesses and the total number of accesses) for patients, caregivers and workers was estimated in the period from March, 11 to March, 31. Five risk reduction actions were implemented: (1) all procedures judged as deferrable by physicians have been postponed, (2) by-phone triage and (3) on-site triage have been activated to avoid accesses of suspected cases patients and caregivers. For workers (4) special leaves and (5) smartwork were encouraged. For each of these actions we estimated Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) and Relative Risk Reduction (RRR). RESULTS: In the analysis period we estimated 50 Covid-19 positive accesses: 14 for patients, 7 for caregivers, 29 for workers (AR 0.129%, 0.087%, 0.316% respectively). We measured 9 avoided accesses for patients (ARR: 0.084%, RRR: 65.4%), 5 for caregivers (ARR: 0.061%, RRR: 69.5%), 17 for workers (ARR: 0.184, RRR: 58.0%); for a total of 31 accesses potentially avoided thanks to the 5 actions. CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic IRST never stopped providing care to the patients, the implemented actions allowed a risk reduction that can be an example of how to face this pandemia maintaining both continuity of care and safety for patients and staff in a context of frailty such as a cancer centre.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2020-11, ISPOR Europe 2020, Milan, Italy
Value in Health, Volume 23, Issue S2 (December 2020)
Code
PCN216
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Methodological & Statistical Research
Topic Subcategory
Hospital and Clinical Practices
Disease
Infectious Disease (non-vaccine), Oncology