A welcome link for patients who are waiting.
In our present health-care system, wait-lists are unfortunately all too familiar. They create distress for both patients and health-care providers. Two nurses from the breast cancer site team of the Capital Health Queen Elizabeth II Cancer Care Program in Halifax, Nova Scotia, responded by developing a program that links breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery and are waiting for outpatient consultation with either a radiation or a medical oncology team. This "link" is by early intervention telephone contact with a nurse who cares for this patient population. Evaluation of the pilot program indicated high patient satisfaction. The authors outline the challenges in maintaining the program, even though it has had a positive impact on those awaiting health services.
Capital Health Queen Elizabeth II Cancer Care Program, Halifax, Nova Scotia. joanhamilton@cdha.nshealth.ca
Joan
J
Hamilton
Barb
B
Grant
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D002170:Canada; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003142:Communication; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D014850:Waiting Lists