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Telephone contacts between triage nurses and cancer patients: an integral part of a community oncology practice
1 Research Institute, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI;
2 Cancer Care Associates, Royal Oak, MI; and
3 William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
The telephone has become almost as important as the stethoscope in managing cancer patients. Telephone contacts between triage nurses and patients seen in a community oncology office are an integral part of healthcare coverage. These calls focus on everyday concerns, such as pain management and chemotherapy side effects. They alert nurses to early signs of cancer recurrence. Unfortunately, telephone contacts are not normally billed directly to patients or indirectly through third-party payers. Although currently these telephone contacts are not a reimbursable expense, they provide a service that often helps avoid the high cost of an emergency room visit or hospitalization.
| Commun Oncol 2007;4:350–354 | full text |  102 kb |