Karasick MH, Betancourt C, Dormesy S, Sheehy J, Isaacs RJ, Sachais BS, Shi PA. How do I initiate and maintain a mobile apheresis service in the era of cellular therapy.
Transfusion 2023;
63:13-22. [PMID:
36208142 DOI:
10.1111/trf.17143]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Mobile delivery of apheresis services is an increasingly important component of health care equity, as patients should not have to transfer care providers or travel far distances to receive critical therapeutic apheresis procedures or cell therapy-based treatments. Therefore, the availability of such services should be expanded.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
In this "How Do I" article, we provide a detailed overview of the elements necessary to initiate and maintain a successful mobile apheresis service, including challenges and potential solutions.
RESULTS
Safe and efficient operation of a mobile apheresis service must consider acquisition of physical assets, such as apheresis sites, personnel, equipment and supplies, communication devices, and transportation vehicles, and optimize organizational aspects, such as staff responsibilities, service partnerships, logistics management, case scheduling and triage, and billing. In the era of cellular therapy, additional critical considerations include regulatory compliance and facility accreditation.
DISCUSSION
To our knowledge, no previous publication provides the extensive details described herein to set up and maintain a successful mobile apheresis service, and thus will be very helpful to those facilities wishing to initiate or expand mobile apheresis services.
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