6.2.2 Community Site Selection

The selection of community hospitals where the satellite care of pediatric oncology patients can occur within the scope of practice defined in Section 2.3 will depend on:

1. Expressed Interest
2. Designation: of local caregivers who will pursue necessary professional education and commit to ongoing participation in the program (Section 6.5.2).
3. Commitment to Participate: in education for satellite practice, both initial and ongoing (Section 6.5.2).
4. Ability and Commitment: to meet infrastructure, policy and practice requirements (Section 2.3; Section 6.5.2)
5. Entry into Affiliation Agreements: Satellite programs will enter into appropriate agreements with each tertiary partner and POGO (Section 6.5.2).
6. Commitment to ensure appropriate conditions to participate in care delivery to children enrolled on clinical trials – including participation in the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board process designed to streamline ethics approval for these trials; AND a signed  research agreement between satellite and tertiary hospital(s) (Section 7.0)
7. Commitment to Participate: in a formal evaluation of the satellite model of pediatric oncology care delivery (Section 6.5.2).
8. Agreed Geographic Catchment Area: rationalized according to the potential, forecast size of the program’s patient population. An accumulated minimum caseload of 20-30 patients is believed to be optimal. The creation of the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) may influence catchment areas – however, the need for a minimum caseload should not be affected.