Creation of Inpatient and Outpatient Oncology Huddle

CREATION OF INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT ONCOLOGY HUDDLE.

Issue: Oncology patients require specialized care utilizing inpatient and outpatient resources. HillcrestHospital has an outpatient cancer center and two dedicated oncology inpatient units. A lack of partnership between the inpatient and outpatient nurses was evident with concern it was affecting patient care. The clinical team wanted to determine when patients were discharged if appropriate follow-up care with the oncology team was provided.

Project Description: Formation and participation of the weekly huddle was led by the oncology units’ nurse managers, nursing case-managers, nurse coordinators, and nurse educators. Social workers from each area also regularly participate in the huddle.Plan of care and discharge are discussed for all patients. Well known patients are discussed with relevant nursing care issues and the outpatient team is alerted of newly diagnosed patients to be seen upon discharge. A log of patients discussed is kept and monthly reviewed to determine if patients upon discharge had appropriate follow-up care with their oncologist.

Results:

Evidence has shown we consistently give best practice through follow-up appropriately with 94-100% of our patients post discharge.Nurses from all units have expressed increased knowledge of patient’s course of disease, increased collaboration, and greater understanding for palliative care in the oncology setting.

An inpatient designated oncology social worker position was created as a result of the huddle identifying the need.

Lessons Learned:

The huddle has been beneficial for multiple reasons beyond appropriate follow-up care. Nurses from all units have expressed increased knowledge of patient’s course of disease, increased collaboration between units, and greater understanding for palliative care in the oncology setting. Education for nurses has increased through better understanding of oncology knowledge gaps. It has also empowered nurse coordinators to proactively advocate for their patient’s current needs.

The huddle has proven dynamic for the growth of nursing care in the oncology specialty at HillcrestHospital.

Submitters:

Linda Pasek, MSN, RN, CNS

Chris Ruuska, BSN, CCM

Karen Schaedlich, BSN, RN, OCN

Lynn Szoka, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC

Diana Simsic,MSSA, LISW-S,OSW-C

Nicole Brown, MSSA, LSW

Carol Metz, BSN, RN, OCN