EP 4 Infusion Center Involving Patient and Family
At the outpatient infusion center, we treat a wide variety of patients. We usually treat patients over a period of time as they come in for chemotherapy infusions or other individual needs. Patients receiving chemotherapy areoften very vulnerable and frightened. Mary, a twenty-plus year old patient came to us with advanced ovarian cancer. Due to her advanced disease, she required long and extensive chemotherapy treatments. Mary spent up to 16 hours a week at the infusion center, 8 of those hours would be spent lying flat on her back, unable to lift her head or turn while the chemotherapy was infused into her abdomen. She did 6 cycles of this treatment, totaling 6 months worth of aggressive treatment. By her last cycle, she was worn out and tired of feeling sick and very hesitant and anxious for her last treatment. We heard of her struggles and told her we had something planned for her last treatment to make the whole day go by quickly. Mary and her husband came to each treatment with their laptop, so we requested they bring it with them on her last treatment. We surprised her with the comedic movie, Bridesmaids. When she arrived everyone was light and happy and genuinely so excited for her to be finishing her treatment. We gave her the DVD and she and her husband watched it. We could hear her laughter which made us smile and laugh as well. As the day went on we kept checking in her room and she was upbeat and laughing, watching the movie twice that day. Her birthday was coming and her family invited us to a combined birthday/chemotherapy is overparty.
Gina and I were invited. We went to Goodwill to pick out our costumes, a lovely 1980’s bridal gown with a blue taffeta bridesmaid dress to match. When arriving at the party Mary saw us and was immediately in hysterics. She knew immediately that we were dressing up as the movie Bridesmaids; the movie that got her to the floor on that last day of treatment and allowed her to smile a little brighter and laugh a little louder during her final chemotherapy day. It is our goal that each patient feels we are genuinely invested in the outcome of their treatment. We build relationships with our patients and their families. We strive to connect on a personal level with them recognizing their unique strengths, preferences and needs.The Infusion Units’ goal is to keep a light and cheerful atmosphere for our patients and their families, while maintaining a high level of quality and professional care. Mary Wolf RN