Number 7 Autumn, 2007
Pharmacy: Oral & Self-Injectable Drugs
One of the more significant changes we are beginning to see in cancer treatment involves the development of more and more drugs that can safely be administered by the patients themselves.
This is a natural progression: originally, chemotherapy was harsh, even risky, and grueling to the patient. Not that it’s a picnic today, but many of the worst side effects can now be effectively managed.
Over time, chemotherapy was removed from the inpatient setting to the outpatient clinic. As treatments improved and the side effects became easier to manage, patients began to be able to lead normal lives while undergoing treatment.
Now, many patients come to our clinics only to receive periodic injections. Manufacturers have begun packaging drugs in syringes for self-administration by the patient. Other drugs are now available in oral doses. This means that patients can avoid trips to the oncology clinic and can take their drugs at home. We expect this trend to continue.
To help our patients take advantage of this new development, our pharmacy has established a new dispensing capability. When their insurance permits, patients can have their prescriptions filled at our clinic, rather than making a special trip to the local community pharmacy, which often must special-order these drugs.
We currently stock more than two dozen drugs, including chemotherapy drugs and supportive agents such as Procrit®, in our dispensing pharmacy. Ask your nurse if self-administration is an option for you.
Announcements
Congratulations to Dr. Sigrun Hallmeyer on the birth of her daughter, Hanna Jasmin, born in February.
Congratulations also to Dr. Chadi Nabhan on the birth of his twin boys, Yazan Adel and Zane Basel, born in April.
We are proud to report that Sandy Purl received the President’s Award of the Chicago Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). And Katherine Szubski received the national Pearl Moore Career Development Award.
Bessie Sepsis, our Lab Supervisor was selected as a recipient of the Keys of the Future award, which is a national award given to medical technologists.
At the ONS Congress in April, Sandy will participate in presenting the results of a clinical nursing study of Aloxi, an anti-emetic drug. And Miriam Scholl will present, in an abstract podium session, the evidence-based practice guidelines for nausea and vomiting that were developed by our nursing group.
April 22-28 is “Laboratory Week," when we recognize the hard work of our lab staff.
April 22-28 is also “Administration Week;” thanks to our reception, billing, medical records, clerical, and accounting staff for their contributions to our work.
Drs. Timothy Lestingi and Chadi Nabhan will participate in the “Prostate Bus," which will provide prostate examinations at Lutheran General Hospital in April.
May is Oncology Nursing Month, a time when we honor the hard working nurses who give so much to our patients.
Oncology Specialists Research Institute
Visitors to our Niles facility may have noticed our Research Institute sign a short distance away from the entrance to our practice office.
The “Research Institute” is a separate department within Oncology Specialists that manages all of the clinical trials in which our physicians participate.
Clinical research does not involve basic science. It is an activity directed at finding out more about what helps cancer patients. Clinical trials are designed to test new drugs, or combinations of drugs, and ways of using them.
Our physicians have always been involved in research. Currently, our research staff of six administers the two or three dozen studies in which we are participating. About 200 of our patients will participate in trials we conduct this year.
Research trials are often sponsored by the developers of new pharmaceuticals, so that they can learn more about how the drugs work. Sometimes the studies are designed by those drug companies; for other trials, our own physicians write the protocols and design the studies.
Oncology Specialists Research Institute has programs in melanoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, and breast, prostate, and lung cancer. Each program features several trials, so that patients with different stages of disease and different medical histories can be eligible to participate.
Clinical trials are not for everyone. But they are an important tool in the fight for progress against cancer and diseases of the blood. Oncology Specialists is committed to this fight and to providing leadership in the conduct of clinical research.
Surveying Our Patients
During the latter part of 2006, we undertook an in-depth survey of our patients. A sample of 1,500 patients, or their families, who visited our clinics during recent years were mailed questionnaires. A few hundred questionnaires were also handed out in our offices to current patients.
Our purpose was simply to find out what our patients thought. What are we doing well? What should we improve? How well do we communicate with our patients? Do we treat family members well? Are there “pet peeves” that we can easily address once we know about them?
The results were encouraging. Generally, our patients feel our doctors are the best. And they think we provide good service, as well as good health care. Here is a sampling of the opinions you expressed.
What do you like best about Oncology Specialists?
What should be improved at our facilities?
Other findings:
We found this survey to be a helpful experience, and we intend to do more to hear from our patients about how we can meet their expectations.
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