Dados do Trabalho

Título

ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED IN ONCOLOGY TO FACE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Apresentação do caso

The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic aroused great concern among health professionals, especially in oncology, because little is known about the disease and its impact on immunocompromised patients. Therefore, numerous discussions were held to implement measures to combat COVID-19. Objective:To present actions developed to prevent the spread of the virus among Oncology employees and patients at a Private Hospital in São Paulo. A Crisis Committee was created with hospital managers to discuss the imminent needs and scientific and regulatory updates of health entities in the country and in the world. The adaptations in the routines had oncologists, specialist nurses and other professionals with expertise in the subjects in question, such as Nosocomial Infection, Intravenous Therapy, among others.

Discussão

Actions started in March 2020: delivery of masks for patients, caregivers and employees; restriction of companions; differentiated waiting room for the elderly, children and/or neutropenics; telephone screening by a nurse on the day before the infusion; self parking for patients with prior appointment; changing the frequency of permeabilization of port-a-cath from monthly to quarterly, extending the period of dressing semi-implanted catheters in pediatrics from 7 to 10 days, with teleconsultation; patient training for subcutaneous home application of drugs, with manual, explanatory video and video call to monitor the application. The navigation of patients performed by nurses is also noteworthy. Among the actions of the navigator nurse, there was an increase in teleconsultation, especially in the management of side effects related to the treatment, avoiding hospital visits, monitoring adherence to oral therapy treatment; management of admissions schedule in COVID-free units, with guarantee of RT-PCR collections in Drive Thru system for cancer patients and in BMT programming. For employees, there was a change in the work schedule, reducing exposure to public transport, rigorous daily screening at the beginning of their shift and decompression actions.

Comentários finais

Although many patients expressed the desire to interrupt treatment or fear to go to the hospital, it was noticed that the measures adopted provided confidence and improved the patient's experience in the continuity of their treatment.

Palavras-chave

Patient navigaton, COVID-19, nurse care