Opinion
Video
Workflow Wins: Scheduling and Pharmacy Impact
Panelists discuss how subcutaneous (SubQ) oncology treatments are reshaping clinic operations by improving infusion chair utilization, enabling flexible scheduling, streamlining pharmacy workflows, and prompting new care delivery models that enhance both efficiency and patient experience.
The introduction of SubQ oncology treatments is significantly reshaping patient scheduling and infusion chair utilization. With SubQ formulations, even converting just 10% to 20% of patients to shorter administration times can open up infusion chairs for others, thereby increasing daily patient throughput. This expanded capacity not only enhances patient flexibility in choosing appointment times but also allows clinics to accommodate longer infusion sessions for patients who need them. From a financial perspective, this increased efficiency can also result in higher revenue generation for oncology practices, even though that aspect may be secondary to patient care goals.
To support this shift, clinics are rethinking where and how SubQ therapies are delivered. In some practices, dedicated injection chairs have been introduced alongside traditional infusion bays. There is also growing interest in administering SubQ injections within standard clinic settings, similar to how simpler treatments such as Lupron are delivered. This model requires minor workflow adjustments and staff oversight but offers greater location flexibility and may ease space constraints in busy infusion centers. Long-term, some practices are redesigning their physical layouts to include private injection spaces, improving both patient privacy and operational flow.
From a pharmacy standpoint, SubQ formulations simplify certain operational aspects. Many of these therapies are quicker to prepare, often requiring only a basic draw rather than full compounding under a sterile hood. This speeds up workflow and reduces the demand on pharmacy resources. However, there are some complexities, such as integrating new formulations into the existing inventory system and ensuring accurate tracking and reporting of SubQ administration. Practices are adjusting analytics to include injections in volume reporting, as excluding them can distort data. Additionally, nurses are adapting to the hands-on nature of SubQ pushes, which requires them to stay with the patient for shorter but more concentrated periods, marking a shift from their usual multitasking during longer infusions.
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