HEALTHCARE
New Jersey ’ s First Home Infusion Program for Cancer Patients
This pilot program can reduce exposure to hospital settings during chemotherapy .
Compiled by John Joseph Parker Contributing Editor
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health have partnered with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey ( Horizon BCBSNJ ) to launch a collaborative pilot program that provides home infusion cancer treatments for eligible patients . The Horizon Home Infusion Pilot Program , which first launched in September 2020 , delivers oncology care to patients in the comfort of their own home with the goal of preventing disruption of chemotherapy during the coronavirus pandemic and limiting exposure to hospital settings .
The presence of COVID‐19 has caused many people to fear venturing out for vital medical services like cancer treatment , resulting in an increased emphasis on telehealth and home care . Home infusion offers many potential benefits for patients , including the ability to stay in a safe and protected environment without having to travel or risk exposure to infectious disease , one-on-one care and close monitoring by the home healthcare provider throughout the entire infusion period , and the convenience of scheduling treatments around their personal schedule . The pilot program , which currently treats patients with varied types of cancer , also leverages the use of telemedicine and is expected to achieve similar or improved cost impact while enhancing overall patient experience .
“ Offering the opportunity to transition eligible patients from infusion centers to
Rutgers Cancer Institute Director Steven K . Libutti , M . D ., FACS , Senior Vice President of Oncology Services , RWJBarnabas Health
home-based infusion of chemotherapy for the first time in New Jersey speaks to our mission of providing the most compassionate world-class cancer care and is what we strive to do with this pilot program ,” notes Rutgers Cancer Institute Director Steven K . Libutti , M . D ., FACS , who is also the senior vice president of oncology services at RWJBarnabas Health .
Eligibility for participation in the pilot is based on chemotherapy regimen and level of
Sharyn Lewin , M . D ., Chief of Gynecologic Oncology , Holy Name ’ s Patricia Lynch Cancer Center
safety . The patient ’ s infusion regimens are then assessed , the most appropriate infusion system and medications are selected , and care is coordinated by home health aides and oncology-trained infusion nurses .
“ The pandemic challenged Horizon to close gaps in care that were emerging in real time and required creative solutions , especially for members who could not travel to receive their oncology treatments ,” says Allen J . Karp , Executive Vice President for Healthcare and Transformation Management at Horizon BCBSNJ .
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey ( pictured ) and RWJBarnabas Health have partnered with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey .
Holy Name First to Enroll Patient in PICCOLO Study
Holy Name is the first site in the nation to open ImmunoGen ’ s PICCOLO study , a single-arm clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of mirvetuximab soravtansine ( mirvetuximab ) as a single agent in patients with folate receptor alpha high , recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer . The first patient in the country to participate in this cutting-edge clinical trial was enrolled at Holy Name ’ s Patricia Lynch Cancer Center in November 2011 under the supervision of Sharyn Lewin , M . D ., chief of gynecologic oncology .
ImmunoGen is a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates ( ADCs ) for the treatment of cancer . ADCs are targeted therapies
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