PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of telephone triage in the management of chemotherapy-related patient problems. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, nursing texts, personal experience. DATA SYNTHESIS: With the impact of managed care and an increase in the number of patients being cared for at home, the need for a system of assessment and intervention that is not based on in-person visits is being recognized. Assessing patient symptoms over the phone and advising patients regarding appropriate care is being recognized as a common practice. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of established protocols for assessment and treatment, nurses can successfully manage many patient needs over the phone. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses play an active role in performing telephone triage and writing the appropriate protocols to facilitate safe and effective caregiving by phone.
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of telephone triage in the management of chemotherapy-related patient problems. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, nursing texts, personal experience. DATA SYNTHESIS: With the impact of managed care and an increase in the number of patients being cared for at home, the need for a system of assessment and intervention that is not based on in-person visits is being recognized. Assessing patient symptoms over the phone and advising patients regarding appropriate care is being recognized as a common practice. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of established protocols for assessment and treatment, nurses can successfully manage many patient needs over the phone. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses play an active role in performing telephone triage and writing the appropriate protocols to facilitate safe and effective caregiving by phone.
Authors: Barry V Fortner; Kurt Tauer; Ling Zhu; Theodore A Okon; Kelley Moore; Davis Templeton; Lee Schwartzberg Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2004-05-20 Impact factor: 4.430