Abstract
Immune effector cell (IEC) therapies have introduced a new era of treating aggressive hematologic malignancies in patients who may have previously had limited therapy options. While undoubtedly impactful, IEC therapy brings forth significant challenges, including high health-care resource utilization, limiting cost barriers, life-threatening toxicities, and logistical obstacles for the health-care team. In 2019, Vanderbilt University Medical Center developed an outpatient cellular therapy program driven by advanced practice providers (APPs) to address these barriers. Since its development, this cellular therapy program has found ways to alleviate some of the financial burden associated with IEC therapy and therefore directly contributed to increased accessibility and sustainability of these treatments. As the program has expanded, some critical modifications have been made in the initial workflow to accommodate growing volumes, including the implementation of continuous, at-home remote monitoring. This article provides an overview of the updated 2026 CAR T-cell outpatient program. Additionally, this article highlights the vital role that APPs serve in fostering the expansion of safe, patient-centered and cost-effective CAR T-cell therapy through outpatient monitoring and telemedicine practices.
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