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The May 2005 opening of Monmouth Medical Center’s
Bernard Fromkin Oncology and Special Care Unit marked a major step
in the continued development of Leon Hess Cancer Center. The 12-bed
private room unit is led by a multidisciplinary team consisting
of medical and surgical oncologists, oncology-certified nurses,
case managers, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers and other
health care professionals working together to meet the total needs
of patients and their families.
The unit’s 12 nurses are fully certified
in chemotherapy, and the majority has received national certification
from the Oncology Nursing Society. There is a 1-5 nurse-to-patient
ratio on the unit, which has an average daily census of 10 to 12
patients.
These nurses serve as care coordinators across
the continuum of treatment and recovery, assessing the physical,
psychological and social needs of patients.
Care is delivered in collaboration with other
cancer and hospital-related services, providing patients with information
on early detection and risk assessment of cancer, research protocols,
palliative care, hospice care, rehabilitation and home health care.
The Oncology and Special Care Unity continued
to advance it’s quality improvement initiatives in several
key areas, including:
- Standardizing
chemotherapy administration indicators by establishing body surface
area (BSA) calculations and reviewing lab values, as well as
completing chemotherapy informed consent forms and providing
patient education.
- Establishing
safety goals in compliance with Monmouth Medical Center standards
that address incidences of falls, pain evaluations and completion
of inpatient admission assessments.
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