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    As Oncology Nurses, We Are the Fish
    Oncology nurse pride
    As Oncology Nurses, We Are the Fish
    May 20, 2022
    Patients and the Public Recognize and Thank Dedicated Nurses
    Nurse empowerment
    Patients and the Public Recognize and Thank Dedicated Nurses
    May 06, 2022
    How to Promote and Maintain Cancer Screening as COVID-19 Persists
    Cancer screening
    How to Promote and Maintain Cancer Screening as COVID-19 Persists
    March 18, 2022
    I’m a Match: My Journey From Advanced Practice BMT Nurse to Stem Cell Transplant Donor
    Oncology nurse pride
    I’m a Match: My Journey From Advanced Practice BMT Nurse to Stem Cell Transplant Donor
    February 11, 2022
    Online and Mobile Resources Prepare Oncology Professionals for Care Delivery in All Settings
    Oncology nurse pride
    Online and Mobile Resources Prepare Oncology Professionals for Care Delivery in All Settings
    January 31, 2022
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    Care coordination

    The Evolution of Ambulatory Care
    Care coordination

    The Evolution of Ambulatory Care

    Ambulatory oncology began to gradually evolve in the mid-2000s to include multiple aspects of the care continuum. Then suddenly, a pandemic skyrocketed that growth as institutions Raced to develop their ambulatory infrastructure to meet new and changing needs.

    April 05, 2022
    The Case of the Swift Sepsis Response
    Oncologic emergencies

    The Case of the Swift Sepsis Response

    Simon is a 72-year-old patient diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. He underwent an HLA-identical sibling peripheral blood stem cell transplantation with fludarabine and melphalan as conditioning chemotherapies before the procedure. Simon is now more than 12 days posttransplant but still neutropenic with an absolute neutrophil count of 0. He has no signs of engraftment, is on total parenteral nutrition, and requires multiple blood transfusions and electrolytes through his central line catheter daily.

    September 03, 2021
    What Oncology Nurses Need to Know About Telehealth
    Nurse empowerment

    What Oncology Nurses Need to Know About Telehealth

    Thrust into the mainstream in 2020, telehealth has transformed how patients with cancer receive some of their care, substituting certain traditional in-person office or clinic visits for phones, videos, and apps and devices that monitor patients’ health. It’s improved access to care in areas previously considered at risk for disparities: for example, patients in remote locations can be managed in an acute-care setting using television monitors, cameras, and call buttons to contact specialists. 

    April 26, 2021
    ONS Congress

    Building a CAR T-Cell Program: How to Go From None to Done

    Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a promising new treatment option for patients with certain types of cancer. As the field expands, institutions are exploring specialized service lines to provide the treatment, speakers said during a presentation on April 22, 2021, for the 46th Annual ONS Congress™ as they shared the lessons learned as their institutions established CAR T-cell therapy programs.

    April 22, 2021
    Involve the Entire Cancer Care Team to Effectively Implement Guidelines
    Clinical practice guidelines

    Involve the Entire Cancer Care Team to Effectively Implement Guidelines

    Only 19% of strategies to implement clinical practice guidelines are fully effective and the majority (43%) are not effective at all, according to the findings from a clinical review in the European Union. Effective guideline implementation requires teamwork, interprofessional engagement, and selecting the most appropriate tool for the job. 

    April 12, 2021
    Virtual Care for Patients With Cancer in New Jersey During COVID-19
    COVID-19

    Virtual Care for Patients With Cancer in New Jersey During COVID-19

    The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is unchartered territory with many unknowns, especially a new reality that nurses may be experiencing for the first time: virtual patient care. Even at a distance, the team at Jefferson Health New Jersey Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Sewell wanted to ensure we offered the same level of care and encouragement to patients in all phases of the cancer continuum, so here’s what we found worked for us.

    June 08, 2020
    How Can Electronic Health Records Help Nurses Implement OCM Changes?
    Medical reimbursement

    How Can Electronic Health Records Help Nurses Implement OCM Changes?

    The Oncology Care Model (OCM) is a value-based payment system that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is piloting. OCM focuses on decreasing the cost of cancer care while continuing to provide high-quality care, including a high level of care coordination and navigation and adherence to national guidelines for care. Part of OCM requires implementing certain practice changes, including documenting a 13-point care plan for each patient.

    October 14, 2019
    Patient-Centered Care Through the Oncology Care Model
    Quality of care

    Patient-Centered Care Through the Oncology Care Model

    Better care. Smarter spending. Healthier people. Those are the three hallmark goals of the Oncology Care Model, a value-based payment system developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s Center for Innovation.

    October 01, 2019
    How Is ONS Supporting OCM Nursing Practice?
    Care coordination

    How Is ONS Supporting OCM Nursing Practice?

    The preliminary outcomes for performance in the first year of the Oncology Care Model (OCM) have shown modest but interesting results for the value-based payment model. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ year-one evaluation examined the initial impact of the new payment model on practice in terms of outcomes related to total cost of care per practice, unplanned hospital and emergency department visits, hospital visits, and patient-reported satisfaction with care for six-month episodes of chemotherapy for beneficiaries from July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017.

    October 01, 2019
    Senators Create Bipartisan Comprehensive Care Caucus
    Health Policy

    Senators Create Bipartisan Comprehensive Care Caucus

    After years of confusion, discussion, debate, and dedicated advocacy work, lawmakers are finally understanding what palliative care is—symptom management, not hospice—and how it’s employed in care. The benefits of early palliative interventions for many diseases, including cancer, can improve quality of life for patients as they navigate their diagnoses. To increase awareness and availability of palliative care in practice, Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso, MD (R-WY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) launched the bipartisan Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus on July 31, 2019.

    September 01, 2019
    Bipartisan Reps Reintroduce Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act
    Health Policy

    Bipartisan Reps Reintroduce Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act

    In divisive times, fewer congressional bills find their way to the president’s desk without considerable bipartisan support. The dance of legislation is complex. Maneuvering through the legislative terrain and avoiding political landmines requires partnerships, expert data, and—at times—a little bit of luck. In the case of the Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (H.R. 3835), that’s the story so far.

    August 17, 2019
    New Genetics Service Delivery Models Help Patients Access Genetic Counseling
    Genetics & genomics

    New Genetics Service Delivery Models Help Patients Access Genetic Counseling

    As genetic and genomic testing become more common—and complex—in cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions, more efficient and accessible ways of providing comprehensive genetic care are needed. In their article in the February 2019 issue of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Pierle and Mahon discussed the findings from their literature review, specifically pertaining to genetics care services across the cancer continuum, patient and system barriers to accessing care, new service delivery models, and oncology nurses’ role in providing comprehensive cancer genetics care services.

    May 07, 2019
    Oncology Urgent Care Clinics Are an Emerging Setting for Cancer Care Delivery
    Care coordination

    Oncology Urgent Care Clinics Are an Emerging Setting for Cancer Care Delivery

    Patients with cancer are living longer, embarking on complex treatment regimens, and experiencing more complications associated with care. As a result, a large volume of patients with cancer require urgent or emergency visits throughout their disease trajectory. Although the need remains constant, what has evolved over time are the chief complaints that bring patients in, the care associated with complications, and new options to lower the burden and cost of care.    

    April 15, 2019
    Caring for Patients Through All Levels of Survivorship
    Survivorship

    Caring for Patients Through All Levels of Survivorship

    The medical terms for living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis identify patients as entering the survivorship phase of their cancer journey. However, as science continues to develop new treatments responsible for extending patients’ lives, new levels of survivorship are being determined.

    September 04, 2018
    Care Coordination Standardizes Monitoring for Patients Prescribed Oral Cancer Agents
    Oral adherence

    Care Coordination Standardizes Monitoring for Patients Prescribed Oral Cancer Agents

    Use of oral therapies requires healthcare teams to monitor patients for issues such as unreported side effects, medication nonadherence, and incorrect administration of medications. Although many patients do very well with this form of treatment, some patients, even with a significant amount of education before starting therapy, may have challenges. 

    August 20, 2018
    Updated Core Competencies Reflect Evolution of Nurse Navigator Role
    Nurse navigator

    Updated Core Competencies Reflect Evolution of Nurse Navigator Role

    Although care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential components of every oncology nurse’s role, oncology nurse navigators (ONNs) take that work even farther by helping patients and caregivers navigate a complex healthcare system and access much-needed resources. By ONS’s definition, ONNs are key in meeting patient and caregiver needs while providing evidence-based, cost-effective, and quality cancer care by eliminating barriers to timely care.

    August 07, 2018
    ONS Congress

    Electronic Health Records Provide a Link Between Patient Data and Care Outcomes

    Electronic health records (EHRs) can offer so much more than a way to keep all processes and procedures linked to a patient. Christina Boord, BSN, RN, OCN®, and Cori Kopecky, MSN, RN, OCN®, discussed electronic health records, patient data, and outcomes during a session at the 43rd Annual Congress in Washington, DC.

    July 13, 2018
    The Importance of Passion, Experience, and Resilience in Oncology Nursing
    Oncology nurse pride

    The Importance of Passion, Experience, and Resilience in Oncology Nursing

    What makes a great oncology nurse? Is it opportunity and experience? Is it passion? I’ve worked with managers who’ve held wildly different opinions on these hiring characteristics, but I would argue they’re all critically important.

    May 29, 2018
    The Role of Oncology Nursing Navigation Continues to Grow
    Nurse navigator

    The Role of Oncology Nursing Navigation Continues to Grow

    Oncology nurse navigators (ONNs) fill a critical, ever-growing role in cancer care settings across the country, providing patients with the resources, education, and care coordination they need to successfully navigate their cancer journey. By reducing barriers and burdens on patients and their caregivers, ONNs help lead patients from initial diagnosis, during treatment, into survivorship, and often through end-of-life care. 

    April 17, 2018
    APRNs Bridge the Gap in Survivorship Care
    Advanced practice nursing (APN)

    APRNs Bridge the Gap in Survivorship Care

    As improved screening, diagnosis, and treatments lead to cancer’s classification as a chronic disease, people with cancer are surviving longer than ever before. However, with lengthened survival comes long-term physical and emotional symptoms and other sequelae that require ongoing surveillance and management. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are essential to delivering quality survivorship care.

    April 05, 2018
    CMS Releases Report on Oncology Care Model
    Quality Outcomes

    CMS Releases Report on Oncology Care Model

    The cost of cancer care and the quality of patient services has always been a top priority in health care. However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center has been working to strengthen both elements of care. CMS, through its Oncology Care Model (OCM) division, works with cancer care providers to develop payment strategies and performance categories in treatment plans for patients with cancer.

    April 01, 2018
    Lay Patient Navigators Can Help Oncology Nurses Guide Patients Through Cancer Care
    Nurse navigator

    Lay Patient Navigators Can Help Oncology Nurses Guide Patients Through Cancer Care

    Even for medical professionals working in health care every day, the U.S. healthcare system can be incredibly complex. Understanding where to obtain information and how to connect patients to resources can be difficult. For patients, navigating their treatment journey can be—at times—downright impossible. Coordinating care for patients with cancer is a crucial component to successful outcomes and quality cancer care.

    March 27, 2018
    How ONS Supports Oncology Nurse Navigators in Care Coordination
    Care coordination

    How ONS Supports Oncology Nurse Navigators in Care Coordination

    When I worked in the clinical setting, like many of you, I guided patients through treatments, prepared them for managing their care at home, celebrated the completion of treatment, and grieved the deaths of many. I coordinated patients’ care. 

    March 20, 2018
    nurse navigators improve oncology care coordination
    Coordinated care

    How Oncology Nurse Navigation Contributes to Effective Care Coordination

    Well-coordinated care by knowledgeable healthcare providers improves patient-centered care, supports shared decision making, reduces fragmentation of care, and decreases readmissions and emergency room visits. However, patients with complex care needs are often lost in the very systems designed to support them.

    September 26, 2017
    Immunotherapy Communication
    Immunotherapy

    Patient-Provider Communication on Immunotherapy Can Be Improved

    Guidelines regarding healthcare provider communication about immunotherapy do not currently exist. Researchers sought to determine patient and provider preferences for this type of information and to identify barriers to communication about immunotherapy. The study’s findings were presented at the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting.

    July 19, 2017
    Oncology and ICU Nurses Working Together
    Interdisciplinary teams

    How Can Oncology and ICU Nurses Work Together to Treat Critically Ill Patients With Cancer?

    Nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU) generally see patients with cancer only when they are extremely sick—not throughout the extensive cancer journey they go through before they get to the ICU. Educating and familiarizing ourselves, as ICU nurses, with a patient’s oncology plan, goals, and history can improve overall care. Learning at which points in the process of cancer treatment certain issues are more likely to arise, such as tumor lysis syndrome during high-dose induction, when a patient is most likely to be neutropenic during a stem cell transplant, and other general facts about oncology, can help improve the care we give. It helps us understand our patients as a whole. The oncology population is a huge part of medical intensive care, and encouraging critical care nurses and oncology nurses to collaborate can help improve the continuity of care and eliminate errors in the ICU.

    July 01, 2017
    ONS Congress

    Organizations Define Care Coordination and Transition Management Nursing Roles

    Each year, the ONS Board of Directors sponsors a session at the ONS Annual Congress on a particularly important, high-impact topic. During a session at the 42nd Annual Congress in Denver, CO, the leadership chose the up-and-coming nursing role of care coordination and transition management.

    July 01, 2017
    Oncology Nurse Advisor Navigation Summit

    Program Improves Care and Decreases Costs for Patients With Cancer

    The estimated cancer prevalence by age in the United States is expected to increase from 216 million in 1975 to 380 million in 2040. With older cancer survivors, the severity of disease and treatment will increase, and the physiologic effects of aging, such as pre-existing conditions and new-onset morbidity, will impact the level of care needed for older adults.

    June 15, 2017
    ASCO Annual Meeting

    Patients Are Equally Satisfied With Phone Calls and In-Person Consultations Before Chemotherapy

    Previous research has indicated that patient satisfaction is linked to time spent with a physician. However, long wait times and organizational issues in an outpatient setting may increase the need for alternative care models. In a study presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting, researchers assessed the use of phone calls instead of a face-to-face consultation prior to chemotherapy (CT) and the effect on patient satisfaction and quality of life.

    June 05, 2017
    ASCO Annual Meeting

    Up-Front Palliative Care Consultation Associated With Better Outcomes in Advanced Cancer

    Optimal timing for the initiation of specialist palliative care has not been determined. In a study, researchers created a supportive oncology inpatient service that integrates up-front palliative care consultation for certain patients with advanced cancer and compared it to those receiving usual oncologic care with on-demand palliative care consultation. The study’s findings were presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

    June 03, 2017
    Oncology Nurse Navigator
    Nurse navigator

    Updated Competencies Outline Oncology Nurse Navigator Role From Novice to Expert

    Based on the results of the oncology nurse navigator (ONN) role delineation survey and feedback from ONS membership, ONS evaluated and updated its ONN Core Competencies. Several significant changes were made.

    May 19, 2017
    How the Oncology Care Model Is Redefining Quality Care
    Quality of care

    How the Oncology Care Model Is Redefining Quality Care

    Oncology institutions across the United States are implementing big change in the way nurses and physicians deliver care to patients with cancer. By highlighting quality care and smart spending, facilities are reimagining the way cancer is treated in America. New procedures, research, and technology have redefined the way cancer is treated, so a new system for delivery and reimbursement is vital to ensure that quality care can be delivered at a reasonable cost.

    March 01, 2017
    Ron Kline, MD, FAAP
    Quality of care

    How Are We Creating a New Payment Model for Oncology Care?

    Oncology care is a complex, expensive, and often-fragmented area of medicine. To understand the potential need for a new payment model in oncology care, a thorough evaluation of all the data was important. By reviewing the oncology literature associated with costs and quality, we discovered that there were wide variations in the costs associated with the treatment of advanced cancers, but little variation in the outcomes of patients. We also identified gaps in patient care that we thought could be improved.

    February 28, 2017
    Puzzle cube illustration
    Coordinated care

    The Impact of Comorbidities on Patient Care

    More than ever before, oncology nurses are required to provide multifaceted care when it comes to managing patients with cancer. As the population of patients with cancer continues to age and cancer becomes more of a chronic condition, oncology nurses are seeing more patients who exhibit comorbidities during their cancer journey.

    January 30, 2017
    Care coordination

    How Do You Support Individual Expertise in a Coordinated Cancer Team Setting?

    When we talk about advocating for patients, whether it’s as an oncology nurse or an oncology social worker, we’re talking about optimal care and quality of life. You could have the greatest treatment in the world, but if your patient doesn’t have transportation to get to that treatment, what’s the point?
    October 04, 2016
    ASCO Annual Meeting

    Nurse-Led Patient Navigation Program Improves Cancer Survival

    Patient navigation programs can help to improve outcomes and reduce disparities; however, little is known about their effects on clinical outcomes, such as survival. In a retrospective, cohort study, a nurse-led patient navigation program was initiated to assess 12-month survival outcomes. The researchers presented the study at the ASCO Annual Meeting.
    June 04, 2016
    Care coordination

    The Case of the Troubling Transport

    During orientation, Justine learns that women scheduled for a hookwire procedure are transported to the mammography suite located across the parking area of the hospital building. Patients are being taken through the public waiting area during the transport. She knows this is a patient privacy violation, but her supervisor tells her, “This is the way we've always done it.”
    March 15, 2016
    Care coordination

    It Started With an Intake Form: Promoting a Culture of Safety Through Accurate Documentation

    During a patients’ initial visit, they’re asked to fill out a screening tool that helps provide a clearer picture as to what their home life is like. This tool addresses important information that helps to dictate our care. Though patients may feel like this is “just another piece of paperwork,” it is crucial to helping us understand their needs and to begin planning for special precautions we many need to take going forward.
    February 05, 2016
    Care coordination

    Nurse Practitioners Are Oncology's Best Kept Secret

    “She is super smart, highly qualified, and handpicked by your physician.” Our patient care coordinator often says this when she's on the phone talking face-to-face with patients to set up their next office visit. She encourages patients to accept their upcoming appointment with our nurse practitioner.
    May 07, 2015
    Nurse navigators improve quality of patient care
    Care coordination

    Nurse Navigators

    Although nurses have always helped patients through the bewildering process of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, formalizing these tasks into a specific role improves outcomes, saves lives, and decreases costs.
    March 05, 2013
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