[Feasibility of transferring medical-technological aid to the home situation for patients with cancer or a serious infection].

Objective: To describe the feasibility of home care technology for patients with cancer or serious infectious diseases.
Setting: Utrecht.
Methods: One hundred and thirty one patients with cancer or serious infections were treated at home with parenteral administration of fluid, cytostatics, analgetics, blood products or antimicrobial agents. A 24-hour service team was available to support patients, their families and professional care-givers. The team is responsible for the education, the development of protocols and logistic co-ordination such as the supply of materials in the home setting.
Results: During a period of about 10,000 days (median 41 days per patient) the supportive team was consulted 127 times. In five cases hospitalization was necessary, no patient died of a complication. Instruction was given to 74 general practitioners; 32 of them were able to handle medical technology on their own. Time consumption due to incidents was 0.8 minute per day and 57 minutes per patient.
Conclusion: Under certain conditions, notably a supporting team, home care technology is feasible.