Critical Evaluation of Emergency Department Management in Oncology Patients with Chemotherapy- Induced Complications

Abstract

Admission to the emergency department can be uncomfortable for patients with advanced cancer. There is limited research on the clinical characteristics of these patients and the amount of psychological and physical problems of patients after admission to the emergency department (ED). Efforts to improve patient-caregiver communication and increase patient support are crucial to save time in ED. Triage in the emergency department plays an important pivotal role in the quality and delivery of medical services because the number of cancer patients referred to ED is unpredictable and it is generally very difficult for them to wait. Therefore, more efforts are needed to reduce the waiting time of cancer patients due to their condition. There is a need to increase cooperation between emergency room, emergency nurses, and the primary oncology team for improving patient care. In general, the existence of oncology emergency and dedicated hospitalization is an essential service for people with cancer. Trained nurses can make a great help in identifying and providing specific services to these patients by diagnosing and treating them and providing appropriate care in the first minutes of the patients’ admission.