Abstract
Introduction
Zoledronic acid, a bisphosphonate used primarily for treating osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions, traditionally requires hospital visits for administration, which can be burdensome, especially for frail older patients. The administration of intravenous (IV) Zoledronic acid at home via Community Rapid Response Teams (CRT) represents an innovative approach to enhance patient care and accessibility while offering significant benefits to patients and healthcare services. Service Delivery CRT team is typically composed of highly trained nurses and doctors, equipped to handle potential adverse reactions promptly and effectively, ensuring patient safety. The involvement of CRT in administering IV Zoledronic acid ensures high-quality immediate care, maintaining the standards of good medical practice. In Caerphilly, our team has been successfully administering IV Zoledronic acid at home, having treated several patients without any complications, using a thorough, easy-to-use checklist process developed by our pharmacists. This checklist helps deliver prompt care in a safe and user-friendly manner.
Benefits
1. This approach enhances patient convenience and comfort, allowing them to receive necessary treatments without travelling, thereby reducing the physical and emotional distress associated with hospital visits.
2. It minimises exposure to hospital-associated infections, an essential consideration for immunocompromised individuals.
3. It can lead to improved adherence to treatment regimens, as patients are more likely to continue with therapy delivered in the comfort of their homes.
4. The reduction in hospital visits also alleviates the burden on secondary care facilities, allowing resources to be allocated more efficiently.
Conclusion
Administering IV Zoledronic acid at home via CRT not only enhances patient convenience and safety but also supports better healthcare resource management, potentially leading to improved treatment adherence and overall patient outcomes. We aim to develop this service further and extend it to other hospital requiring services like parenteral iron for heart failure.