Updated: Monday, Dec 10, 2007
The hospitals offering chemotherapy services across the province have been divided into four broad categories. The level definitions and descriptions are as follows:
Satellite Centres of BCCA: Level IV
A Satellite Centre is staffed by a BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) medical oncologist, and/or a BCCA General Practitioner receiving remote support from a BCCA regional centre.
The Centre also has chemotherapy certified oncology nurses, oncology trained pharmacists and pharmacy staff. All chemotherapy in these centres is supervised by a BCCA medical oncologist.
Satellite Centres prepare and deliver oral and parenteral outpatient chemotherapy agents. This includes first dose treatment and the full spectrum of outpatient chemotherapy protocols as delineated by the BC Cancer Agency. Please contact individual sites to determine ability to administer specific in-patient chemotherapy regimens.
It is also electronically connected to the BC Cancer Agency’s Cancer Agency Information System (CAIS) and therefore has full access to electronic patient information.
The service is available from Monday to Friday.
Full Service Community Chemotherapy Centres: Level III
A Full Service Community Chemotherapy Centre is located in a general community hospital and delivers out patient oral and parenteral cancer chemotherapy as well as provides medical and nursing support for cancer patients. The Centre is typically staffed with community physicians who are general oncologists, internists, general practitioners and/or General Practitioners in Oncology (GPO), graduates of the BC Cancer Agency's Family Practice Oncology Network Preceptorship Program, chemotherapy certified oncology nurses, oncology experienced pharmacists and pharmacy staff. Referring physicians are required to complete a Communities Oncology Network referral for the transfer of care.
Staff is able to manage all types of out patient IV and oral chemotherapy protocols including first cycle and trained in care and management of central venous access devices.
Staff does not have access to the BC Cancer Agency’s Cancer Agency Information System (CAIS) unless specifically indicated.
The service is available from Monday to Friday.
Basic Community Chemotherapy Service: Level II
Chemotherapy services offered are limited with restrictions to types of chemotherapy treatments, specialized equipment or specialized skill. A basic community chemotherapy service typically consists of at least a chemotherapy certified oncology nurse. One or more physicians maybe involved in the medical management of patients on chemotherapy. It may not be advisable to do first cycle in these centres depending on the expertise available and the particular chemotherapy regimen.
Staff does not have access to the BC Cancer Agency’s Cancer Agency Information System (CAIS) unless specifically indicated.
Please contact specific location health care professional for days and hours of service.
Community Chemotherapy Service: Level I
Minimal amount of oncology service offered. Nature of services varies from site to site. These hospital pharmacies dispense some anticancer drugs. No formalized cancer care team available. BC Cancer Agency does not recommend intravenous chemotherapy to be provided by these facilities.
Staff does not have access to the BC Cancer Agency’s Cancer Agency Information System (CAIS) unless specifically indicated.
Please contact specific location health care professional for days and hours of service.