Oncology decision tree

Financial cutbacks and budgetary constraints continue to be a part of government policy, and impact deeply on many aspects of daily life in Australia in the late 90s. Health care is not immune from these measures, and nurses and other allied health professionals are having to manage increasingly complex patient care with less funding and resources. Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy can usually be managed on an outpatient basis, but need round the clock specialist nursing care at home following treatment which can have unpleasant side effects. Home nursing is an expensive option, but it has been shown in the US that a specialist nurse can triage by telephone, providing expert and timely advice and care to this vulnerable group, preventing admission to hospital and providing family support. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that, despite budget constraints, an improved cost effective service can offer clients expert care at a fraction of the cost of alternative services. By Sally Koodiaroff.