Improving patient outcomes in an ambulatory infusion setting: decreasing infusion reactions of patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin.
Nurses working in the outpatient ambulatory setting treat patients with multiple infusion drug regimens. Patients can have allergic reactions to infusions ranging from very mild to life-threatening. The reaction and the subsequent treatment measures can be very disconcerting to the patients and to the visitors in the infusion area. The nursing team described in this article took a proactive approach to minimize infusion reactions in the authors' facility, thereby ensuring the safety of other patients. Staff members examined the performance improvement data, conducted a retrospective study, and collaborated with the primary physician providers to develop rechallenge protocols for patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin regimens.
Huddleston
Roseann
R
York Cancer Center-WellSpan Health, York, Pa, USA. RHuddleston@Wellspan.org
Berkheimer
Carol
C
Landis
Sandra
S
Houck
Dereen
D
Proctor
Ann
A
Whiteford
Joan
J
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D003211:Concurrent Review; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011292:Premedication / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel