Congress Abstracts 2003

85

A PATIENT GUIDE TO CARE: COLLABORATION BY DEPARTMENT OF PATIENT PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE PATIENT EDUCATION. Diane E. Johnson, RN, OCN^®, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI.

The cancer center at Froedtert Hospital includes many specialty departments. Patients often visit several departments during the course of their cancer treatment. The purpose for developing the Patient’s Guide to Care was to provide an organized approach to patient education that links the specialty departments. The Patient’s Guide to Care meets our patient education goals by providing education materials in a simple standardized format in a single binder, providing only the pertinent information for the patient at the time they receive care in a specialty area, and empowering the patient to be educated, informed partners in their care.

A multidisciplinary committee was formed consisting of nurses, ministers, dieticians, social services, physicians, and public relations. Concerns identified included inadequate patient education, fragmentation of patient information, and patient dissatisfaction. The project goals were to reduce patient anxiety with increased patient/family compliance, increase patient satisfaction, and provide consistent, comprehensive patient education.

The guide includes an opening letter welcoming the patient to the cancer center and explaining the use of the guide. Information includes sections on disease process, treatment(s), medications, communication tips, glossary of medical terms, and follow-up care. Names and addresses of equipment/supply vendors, support groups, and calendar for medications and appointments are added features.

The nurse presenting the patient’s guide signs the introductory letter. Each specialty department then has an information section to be added to the generic binder on the patient’s first admission or treatment. For example, if a patient moves from outpatient radiation oncology to inpatient oncology, the patient receives another information section. The binder is brought by the patient to each visit to facilitate ongoing assessment of patient needs. Homecare agencies also use the information to facilitate a coordinated continuum of care.

The Press Ganey patient satisfaction scores validated increased satisfaction with the education process. The patient’s guide facilitates consistent, comprehensive patient teaching by staff, as well as providing an orientation tool for new staff. Patients and families have identified decreased anxiety related to the availability of written information for use at home under a more relaxed atmosphere.