title: Hotel-based ambulatory care for complex cancer patients: a review of the University College London Hospital experience.
abstract: Since 2005, University College London Hospital (UCLH) has operated a hotel-based Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) for hematology and oncology patients requiring intensive chemotherapy regimens and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Between January 2005 and 2011 there were 1443 patient episodes, totaling 9126 patient days, with increasing use over the 6-year period. These were predominantly for hematological malignancy (82%) and sarcoma (17%). Median length of stay was 5 days (range 1-42), varying according to treatment. Clinical review and treatment was provided in the ACU, with patients staying in a local hotel at the hospital's expense. Admission to the inpatient ward was arranged as required, and there was close liaison with the inpatient team to preempt emergency admissions. Of the 523 unscheduled admissions, 87% occurred during working hours. An ACU/hotel-based treatment model can be safely used for a wide variety of cancers and treatments, expanding hospital treatment capacity, and freeing up inpatient beds for those patients requiring them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University College London Hospital, London, UK. jonathansive@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sive
authors.forename: Kirit M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ardeshna
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheesman
authors.forename: Franel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: le Grange
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peggs
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Statham
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Goldstone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008131:London; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult