Caring for patients with malignancy in the emergency department: patient-provider interactions

Patients with malignancy and caregivers can present to the emergency department (ED) under stress and fatigue as a result of the intensity of energy required to cope with the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of their illness. When interacting with patients and families, emergency clinicians should be aware of patient, family, and caregiver coping, which may be impaired due to the chronic, serious illness. The emergency clinician should not be surprised that conflicts may arise between patients and providers as a result of fatigue and stress. Strategies to manage conflict can be employed.