Onco Hub

What is Caare ONCO HUB

OncoHub leverages a hub and spoke model to deliver cancer care services across a wide geographical area.

The Hub

The central hub is a high-volume, advanced cancer care facility equipped with:

  • A multidisciplinary team of specialists, including medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and palliative care specialists.
  • Advanced diagnostic capabilities like molecular profiling and next-generation sequencing
  • Comprehensive treatment options including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
  • Clinical trial participation opportunities

 The Spokes

The spokes are smaller, satellite facilities located in geographically dispersed areas. These facilities typically provide:

  • Basic cancer screening and diagnostic services
  • Consultation with general oncologists
  • Administration of some cancer treatments, particularly oral chemotherapy and routine injections
  • Supportive care services like pain management, nutritional counseling, and psychosocial support

The hub and spoke model offer several advantages for cancer patients, including:

  • Improved access to care: Patients living in remote areas can receive essential cancer care services closer to home, reducing travel burden and costs.
  • Standardized care: The hub ensures consistent treatment protocols and quality care across all spoken locations.
  • Expertise and resources: Spoke facilities have access to the hub’s team of specialists and advanced technologies for consultations, complex treatments, and clinical trials.

Here’s a diagram illustrating the hub and spoke model:

How it works

The Caare platform can be a valuable tool within the Caare Oncohub and spoke model by facilitating communication, consultation, and remote monitoring between patients, general oncologists at the spokes, and specialists at the central hub. Here’s how:

Improved Patient-Provider Communication:

  • Spoke clinics: Health workers from the spoke Clinics can use the Caare Platform to schedule appointments with Senior Oncologists at the HUB, receive appointment reminders, and manage prescriptions.
  • Hub specialists: Senior Specialists can securely connect with the patients at the respective Spokes.

Virtual Consultations:

  • Reduced travel: The Caare Platform can enable video consultations between spoke patients and hub specialists, reducing the need for frequent travel to the central facility.
  • Preliminary assessment: Spoke doctors can use the app to virtually consult with hub specialists for complex cases, getting initial guidance before potentially referring the patient to the hub.

Remote Patient Monitoring:

  • Vitals collection: Caare offers a way to collect basic vitals through the app (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate), spoke clinics can remotely monitor patients and share data with hub specialists for a more comprehensive view.
  • Progress tracking: Patients can use the app to report symptoms, medication adherence, and any side effects, allowing spoke doctors and hub specialists to track treatment progress remotely.

Additional Considerations:

  • Data security: Caare platform will ensure secure communication and patient data storage to comply with ABDM regulations.
  • Accessibility: Caare platform is user-friendly and accessible for patients with varying technical skills and potentially limited internet connectivity in remote areas.

By integrating the Caare Platform into the hub and spoke model, Caare Onco can enhance accessibility to care, improve communication and collaboration between spoke clinics and the central hub, and potentially improve patient outcomes.

Remote video-assisted chemotherapy (RVAC)

Remote video-assisted chemotherapy (RVAC) is a telehealth model that allows patients undergoing chemotherapy to receive treatment closer to home. This is achieved through the use of video conferencing technology, which enables patients to connect with nurses and doctors at a healthcare facility while receiving chemotherapy medication at a local clinic or even at home.

Benefits of RVAC

RVAC offers several benefits for patients undergoing chemotherapy, including:

Reduced travel time and cost: For patients living in rural or remote areas, traveling to a hospital or cancer center for chemotherapy can be a significant burden. RVAC eliminates the need for long commutes, allowing patients to receive treatment in a more convenient setting.
Improved quality of life: RVAC can help to improve patients’ quality of life by reducing the stress and fatigue associated with travel. This can allow patients to spend more time with family and friends and focus on their overall well-being.
Increased access to care: RVAC can help to increase access to chemotherapy care for patients who may not otherwise be able to travel to a treatment center.
How RVAC Works

The specific process for RVAC may vary depending on the healthcare facility, but it typically involves the following steps:

Consultation: A patient meets with an oncologist or other healthcare provider to discuss whether RVAC is a suitable option for them.
Preparation: If RVAC is determined to be a good fit, the patient will receive training on how to use the video conferencing technology and how to prepare for treatment at home.
Treatment: During chemotherapy treatment, the patient will connect with a nurse or doctor at the healthcare facility via video conferencing. The nurse will monitor the patient’s vital signs and administer the chemotherapy medication.
Follow-up: After treatment, the patient will have a follow-up appointment with their healthcare provider to discuss any side effects and monitor their progress.

Suitability for RVAC

RVAC is not suitable for all patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients who are considered good candidates for RVAC typically have:

  • A reliable internet connection
  • A comfortable and safe place to receive treatment at home
  • A caregiver or family member who can be present during treatment to provide support
Conclusion

RVAC is a promising new model of care that has the potential to improve the lives of patients undergoing chemotherapy. By reducing travel time and cost, improving quality of life, and increasing access to care, RVAC can help to ensure that more patients receive the treatment they need

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