Title:
Implementation of Evidence-Based Symptom Management Algorithms to Reduce Emergency Room Encounters
Research details:
Ashley Hums, a recent graduate of the DNP program, researched ways to decrease the number of emergency room visits for oncology patients seeking symptom management.
As a young child, Hums was diagnosed with cancer and, consequently, oncology became a passion of hers throughout her nursing career. When deciding the topic for her research project, Hums knew she wanted to focus on oncology patients. She spoke with the director of the IU Health Simon Cancer Center to learn what areas of their healthcare experience needed improvement, and discovered there was a large trend in oncology patients visiting the ER.
When oncology patients have frequent ER visits, they can be exposed to dangerous illnesses and other ER hazards.
“Patients are at an increased risk for infection, and many ER physicians don’t know how to treat cancer patients because of the chemotherapy and the side effects from the medications they take,” Hums explained.
Results:
Hums developed an evidence-based symptom management algorithm for triage nurses to use to help oncology patients manage symptoms over the phone.
The implementation of her research was able to decrease ER visits of oncology patients by 27% at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center.
“Having those algorithms, they have guidelines and protocols that patients can now use to effectively help manage those symptoms at home instead of going to the emergency room,” Hums said.
Potential benefit for patients:
Hums presented her research at the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Congress that was held in Seattle in July. Going forward, she hopes to see other hospitals adopt these algorithms or something similar that can manage oncology patients’ symptoms without risky visits to the ER.
Project Site:
IU Health Simon Cancer Center
Post-graduation plans?
Hums hopes to continue her oncology research in the future, and the IU School of Nursing DNP program has been a springboard for her career.
“The IU DNP program has been amazing, I’ve learned and grown so much.”