Extending Talquetamab Education Beyond the Hospital

Healthcare education initiatives at UCSF have expanded to include local oncologists and community centers as bispecific antibodies transition to outpatient administration. Samantha Shenoy and colleagues conduct education sessions for affiliated centers, focusing on managing talquetamab side effects, infection prevention, and recognizing treatment-related complications. These educational efforts are crucial as therapies move from academic medical centers to community practice settings.

Emergency department education represents a critical component of comprehensive care coordination, ensuring that emergency physicians can recognize and manage cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity when patients present with concerning symptoms. The educational initiatives extend to support groups, where healthcare providers present information about bispecific antibodies and expected side effects to help patients and families prepare for treatment experiences.

The systematic approach to education across multiple healthcare touchpoints—from community oncology centers to emergency departments to patient support groups—demonstrates the comprehensive planning required for safe bispecific antibody administration. This educational framework ensures that as these therapies become more widely available outside major cancer centers, healthcare providers throughout the continuum of care are prepared to recognize and manage treatment-related complications appropriately.