Sarah Cannon Cancer Network’s Post

“The heart of Reimagine Care is our ability to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology with the compassion of our Virtual Care Center (VCC) healthcare professionals into the patient’s existing care team in the cancer center. The VCC provides patients with 24/7 access to Advance Practice Providers (APP) and Registered Nurses (RN) through a symphony of support via SMS text, phone, and video. This synergy of humans and technology promises to redefine the cancer care experience, making it more efficient and patient-centric for patients, caregivers, and providers alike.” Patient expectations are evolving, with 90+% of patients asking for on-demand access to their care teams. However, most cancer centers struggle to provide this type of access due to resource constraints and technology limitations. In this edition of the Reimagine Care Chronicles, hear from two of our amazing clinical and operations leaders, Bellinda Conte, MS, eMBA and Amy Hillsman, MSN, ANP-BC, about the impact a cancer center can have when combining smart technologies with compassionate people to extend care beyond the clinic. Read more below ⬇ https://lnkd.in/e8X4dv-b

A patient finished treatment today and we had our bell-ringing ceremony for him. We are a tiny department and 6-7 of us are usually there. The patient typically says a few words, we share some laughs and tears with them and wish them luck. "Simul, are you ignoring the evidence that says this is potentially harmful? There may be unintended consequences." There are actual studies on this - about the "harms" of ringing the bell. Life is not simple and cannot always be simulated with a randomized trial. A few times a week, in the midst of the routine of work, the sadness of loss, we celebrate our patients. We ask them if they would like to ring the bell at the end of treatment. A minority of patients say "nah, I'm good" and we respect that. But, most say yes. Why do I do this in spite of "the evidence"? Note, I am saying evidence with many many grains of the most sarcastic salt you will find. - We are rarely all together in the department with the patient, as we all have our own roles. But, here we get to spend this moment with the patient and their family. - The patient just did something really hard! If they choose to celebrate it, we are here for them. If not, we will see you in 2 weeks. - It is a safe space for tears - there are times when every single one of us and the patient and family emote. It's okay even for you doctor to share a cry with you. - Patients that are really into it bring their family - kids, friends, partners. We get to celebrate with them, as well, and to see the people that will help take care of our patient when we aren't in the picture. Overall, the patients that choose it very much appreciate it. This is seen over the course of years and being a perceptive reader of people. There is a "killjoy" nature in oncology that want to take away even the smallest of joys. We are a community clinic in the truest sense of the word - we provide care, but also sometimes money for groceries and rent and prayers and rides. My door is literally always open and patients walk in on random days to chat. When you read studies like this or that resident Steve that says things like "Actually, ringing the bell might be harmful" (Steve is so annoying!), think a little more deeply about this. If you're at some center where you flew in, saw a student, a resident, a fellow and occasionally an attending physician once in a while, then flew out, this ceremony may not be appealing. If you are being taken care of by your neighbors and friends, people you attend church with or play pickleball with, people that you'll see out in the world that feel connected to you, celebrating small victories may be one of the small joys that keep patients going. And stop wasting time and energy studying this stuff. Just learn how to be a person. https://lnkd.in/gcFTMXvc.

Empowered by Knowledge Louise Labuschagne completed a free cancer course. "I was asked to provide feedback on the AICF course, a valuable resource for nurses seeking to enhance their understanding of cancer and the challenges faced by our patients. The most significant benefit I gained from this course was personal growth. I learned to change my approach, improve my communication, and prioritize patient needs. Patients and their families trust us with their lives, especially when facing a life-altering cancer diagnosis. This course helped me develop the patience and skills needed to support them effectively. It covers essential topics, going beyond theory to delve into the emotional and psychological aspects of patient care. This includes palliative support, quick decision-making, and our role in supporting not only the patient but also their family and friends. Furthermore, it equipped me with the confidence to lead training for my colleagues, which was an enriching experience. The AICF course provided me with valuable knowledge and personal growth. I'm eager to share what I've learned, and I'm grateful to our Nursing Manager, Sharon Erasmus, the ICCF trainer, Vivian, and CANCERCARE for making this opportunity possible"- Oncology Nursing Sister Supervisor Louise Labuschagne. Seize the moment and register for our complimentary Oncology course using the link below: Course: Oncology Nursing (http://bit.ly/48M9437 ). This program also offers Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for healthcare practitioners, allowing them to earn annual credits while advancing their expertise. Learn more at http://bit.ly/48M9437 #oncologyexcellence #EmpoweringCare #aicftraining #EmpowerThroughKnowledge

We can’t let this happen again. 🚫 In this heartbreaking article, a simple mix-up of two IV lines by an overworked nurse led to a fatal error. Dr. David Boothman, a well-known pancreatic cancer researcher, was inadvertently administered a fentanyl bolus instead of saline, resulting in his tragic loss. 💔 At Crimson Medical, we understand the immense pressure healthcare professionals face and are driven to support them in preventing such devastating mistakes. Our IV Manager is built for nurses, making it easy for them to keep IV lines straight and ensure patient safety. 🏥 Our commitment is stronger than ever to preventing errors like this, safeguarding patients and supporting healthcare professionals. 🌟 Together, let's make healthcare safer. 🙏 https://lnkd.in/g8P3F8Sr

Looking to improve patient access to vital cancer treatments and boost nurse satisfaction, Enloe Medical Center needed to first address several key challenges – long patient wait times, midday bottlenecks, scheduling inefficiencies, and running past close occurrences. Since implementing iQueue for Infusion Centers, Enloe Cancer Center has optimized their daily infusion workload and improved scheduling visibility for staff. Now, patients are waiting less than 15 minutes before receiving treatment. ⏱️⚡ 🔗 Learn more about how they improved nurse satisfaction and patient experience with the power of data-driven insights here: https://bit.ly/421kvB2

How do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated care? ✏️ there should be adequate collaboration between volunteers, oncology nurses, oncologist, radiographer, caregivers and every concerned in the health care industry, so as to eradicate the elephant (cancer) in the room.

Empowered by Knowledge Louise Labuschagne completed a free cancer course. "I was asked to provide feedback on the AICF course, a valuable resource for nurses seeking to enhance their understanding of cancer and the challenges faced by our patients. The most significant benefit I gained from this course was personal growth. I learned to change my approach, improve my communication, and prioritize patient needs. Patients and their families trust us with their lives, especially when facing a life-altering cancer diagnosis. This course helped me develop the patience and skills needed to support them effectively. It covers essential topics, going beyond theory to delve into the emotional and psychological aspects of patient care. This includes palliative support, quick decision-making, and our role in supporting not only the patient but also their family and friends. Furthermore, it equipped me with the confidence to lead training for my colleagues, which was an enriching experience. The AICF course provided me with valuable knowledge and personal growth. I'm eager to share what I've learned, and I'm grateful to our Nursing Manager, Sharon Erasmus, the ICCF trainer, Vivian, and CANCERCARE for making this opportunity possible"- Oncology Nursing Sister Supervisor Louise Labuschagne. Seize the moment and register for our complimentary Oncology course using the link below: Course: Oncology Nursing (http://bit.ly/48M9437 ). This program also offers Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for healthcare practitioners, allowing them to earn annual credits while advancing their expertise. Learn more at http://bit.ly/48M9437 #oncologyexcellence #EmpoweringCare #aicftraining #EmpowerThroughKnowledge

A recent study revealed that cancer survivors who received regular check-ins and survivorship education from a nurse navigator experienced significant improvements in their quality of life, reduced fear of recurrence, and better mental health compared to those under standard physician follow-up. These findings highlight nurse navigators' vital role in delivering personalized care and support, ultimately enhancing survivors' well-being without increasing healthcare expenses. ONCONav offers customizable software for oncology navigators to streamline patient interactions and tasks, designed with user input from cancer centers nationwide. Review the full study to better understand the correlation between navigation and mental well-being:

Redefining Radiation Therapy Prior Authorization with RT Care Pathways In the evolving landscape of healthcare, care pathways are becoming increasingly important. These tools guide evidence-based healthcare, improving multidisciplinary communication, care planning, and patient satisfaction. HealthHelp's Radiation Therapy pathways are end-to-end, detailed, and evidence-based treatment protocols for specific types of cancer care. They align with ASCO, ASTRO, and NCCN recommendations, ensuring our pathways meet the highest standards of care. Our Chief Medical Officer, Ronald Lopez MD, highlights the transformative power of these pathways: “Radiation therapy care pathways provide the solution to the 3 major problems attributed to prior authorization: administrative burden, lack of transparency, and delays in care. By simply entering a cancer type, stage, and size, the requesting party is presented with the best modality and number of units necessary to produce the best outcome. Transparent, easy to use, and without delays in care.” Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/49ztnRe #HealthHelp #RadiationTherapy #CarePathways #PriorAuthorization #HealthcareInnovation

Our US medical system: fragmented or resilient? Is bigger always better? A group of oncologists near Philadelphia (Alliance) refused to be gobbled up by a large hospital system (Jefferson). They retained admitting privileges in that system’s hospital network. But now the large hospital revoked the independent doctors’ admitting privileges, and the independents sued. The judge sided with the large hospital system, but is open to better arguments from the independents. There is another large hospital network in the area, but like we discovered about supply chains, a bunch of providers of different sizes gives a system far more resilience than just a few large entities. And then there is preference. I don’t know about you, but I like solo or group doctor practices. It helps to have that human touch during tough times. Large hospital practices often have productivity and paperwork requirements for their doctors that make visits shorter. Which is worrisome because sometimes a diagnosis is made from a few minutes of chitchat. Instead of spending our health dollars on doctors’ time, we choose to spend on diagnostic tests. No wonder our healthcare system is so inefficient. On the other hand, if you have a rare or difficult case, a larger center is the place to be. Do you prefer small or large medical practices for your everyday medical needs? Why? What do you think of this case? #hospital #monopoly #healthcare #doctor #philadelphia #oncology #cancerjourney #cancercare