ARMS OUT, IMMUNITY UP! INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTPATIENT ONCOLOGY COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC.

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on physical, mental, and emotional health worldwide. The first COVID-19 vaccine approved for Emergency Use Authorization in December 2020 offered a glimpse of pandemic defeat. Access to vaccines is complicated for patients with cancer due to their immunocompromised state, complex treatments requiring oncologist consultation and frequent appointments. A single location for patients to receive coordinated outpatient and preventative care in a familiar setting is beneficial for the overall patient experience. The purpose of this project was to create a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic in an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center through a collaborative, interdisciplinary partnership. Our goal was not only to vaccinate and boost immunity for oncology patients, but also for the general public. On March 9, 2021 oncology leadership received approval for a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Executives, leadership from nursing, operations and ambulatory, IT, and pharmacy met daily for one hour between March 11 and March 19 to create infrastructure and develop an implementation plan. Through collaborative planning efforts an electronic health record department and vaccine clinic schedule were created, new work-flows developed, oncology resources reallocated to support operations, exam rooms and waiting areas modified, staff educated to new processes, patients identified for scheduling, and a data tracking Smartsheet © developed. A 34-page handbook outlined steps of the process and resource for clinical staff. Severely immunocompromised patients were approved by their oncologists, nurses called patients to screen for vaccine eligibility and schedule appointments, pharmacists managed preparation and distribution of vaccines to minimize waste, and medical assistants administered vaccines and monitored patients post injection. Between March 22 and July 9, there were 507 vaccines administered, 46 cancellations, 24 same day add-ons, and one vaccine wasted due to expiration. Smartsheet© data collected the first week showed a total of 242 telephone calls in which 40% declined or deferred vaccination, 23% already vaccinated, 22% did not answer, and 15% scheduled. No adverse reactions were identified during post monitoring period in the clinic. The success of the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic can be attributed to the collaborative partnership between the interdisciplinary group. Expertise from members led to a rapid, efficient and organized implementation of the clinic. Immunocompromised oncology patients have received benefit from vaccination services in a familiar location during their already scheduled oncology appointments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]