A Vancouver-based program that teaches certain patients with immune deficiencies to care for themselves and saves hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital costs could be in jeopardy.
The program at St. Paul’s Hospital trains patients with a genetic disorder known as hypogammaglobulinemia to perform their own infusions of the human blood product immunoglobulin at home. Of about 400 patients with the disease in B.C., more than 100 have received the training since 2010, resulting in estimated savings of more than half a million dollars for hospitals.
The program is financed by the manufacturer of the blood product, but that funding is about to be cut off. The hospital’s head of immunology, Dr. Robert Schellenberg is concerned that could mean the end of the valuable service.
“The concern is the longevity of the funding and that this really should be supported by the ministry,” Schellenberg told CTV News.
“The idea was to put forth a business plan to the Ministry of Health in regard to this ... and that to be honest has stagnated. Now we are scrambling to try to get funding and maintain it rather than go six months at a time.”
In an email to CTV News, the ministry said that it is up to local health authorities to fund the program.
“Dr. Schellenberg has been asked to contact his patients to clarify with them that the program is not ending. The ministry has not received any request from Providence [Health Care] to provide additional funding at this time,” ministry officials wrote.
Janice Victory of Providence Health insists the organization is working on funding.
“The program will continue, and it’s really looking at the best model to support that,” she said.
The home infusion program is estimated to save the healthcare system $5,736 per patient over three years. Patient Chris Arena has seen those savings firsthand – he used to spend four hours per month in the hospital for infusions that he can now perform on his own.
“I’m taking up a bed, I’m taking up a nurse, I’m taking up a doctor, an MRI, an X-ray. Other people need these things and I don't want to be the guy that’s taking up that space,” he said.
His disorder leaves him vulnerable to infections, and Arena says he’s contracted pneumonia at least six times and shingles at least four. The home infusion program has given him new freedom.
“It allows me to live my life. I can travel for the first time in my life for extended periods of time. I’m planning to go to Europe this summer for a month,” he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Lisa Rossington
