The role of home healthcare in managing cancer-related pain during COVID-19 pandemic: ‘The Triple Triage Protocol’

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome and death. To limit the infection spread, non-urgent surgical procedures, day procedures, including interventional pain management, and patient visits, have been postponed or interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pain management is defined as a fundamental human right, but the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 outbreak requires revisions in clinical practice for chronic pain. This article describes the role of home healthcare services in managing cancer pain based on clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the triple triage concept and the use of telemedicine. Key words: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Telemedicine; Home care; Cancer Pain Citation: Ergönenç T, Ergönenç JS, Altınpulluk EY. The role of home healthcare in managing cancer-related pain during COVID-19 pandemic: ‘The Triple Triage Protocol’. Snaesth. Pain intensive care 2021;25(1):1-4. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v25i1.1430 Received: 4 January 2021, Reviewed & Accepted:  8 January 2021