Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships with Northumberland Hills Hospital Jennifer Gillard has confirmed to Today’s Northumberland that NHH is one of 28 hospitals across Ontario with issue related to the “closed system” practice for delivering specific intravenous (IV) medications to cancer patients
Gillard sent a memo to staff concerning the issue and has forwarded it on to Today’s Northumberland.
In June 2018, Cancer Care Ontario (CCO), the provincial agency that monitors the standard and quality of cancer care, notified us that our “closed system” practice for delivering specific intravenous (IV) medications may have resulted in a reduced dose for some patients, due to more than the expected amount of drug remaining in the IV tubing. This issue is limited to specific drugs provided in small-volume bags of 50 mL or 100 mL. Cancer Care Ontario has indicated that 28 hospitals across the province have been affected.
As soon as we became aware of this issue, we took immediate steps to ensure our patients receive their full dosage while also ensuring safe handling of these medications by staff. We then began notifying active patients of the issue and the change in our practice, which includes a flushing of the IV tubing to ensure any remaining medication in the tubing gets to the patient. Notification to the twenty-three (23) affected NHH patients in active treatment is now close to complete, together with assessment by the patients’ oncologists to determine whether any change in treatment is required. NHH expects to complete active patient notification by August 20.
Many intravenous medications require unique processes and equipment, such as pumps, filters and IV tubing. The equipment and set-up can vary based on a number of factors, including the medication itself and the needs of the patient being treated. The “closed system” practice for administering specific IV drugs to patients in cancer care is aligned with the standards set by Cancer Care Ontario, and was developed and implemented to ensure that these drugs are safely given to patients without having adverse effects on those who are handling and providing the treatments on a daily basis.
It is important to note that no two patients are alike, and that physicians in cancer care monitor each patient’s individual progress throughout their treatment and in follow-up appointments, and make medication adjustments as needed based on medical assessments and the patient’s test results.
Delivering safe, quality care is Northumberland Hills Hospital’s highest priority, and the highest priority of our regional and provincial cancer care partners: the Durham Regional Cancer Centre and Cancer Care Ontario (CCO). We are working with other affected hospitals, the Durham Regional Cancer Centre and with CCO as they lead a root cause analysis to determine what factors might have contributed to this issue.
On Monday, August 13, 2018, Cancer Care Ontario published further context on this issue on their public website. To see that information, please click here: http://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/systemic-treatmentadministration
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
