| Abstrakt: |
As with many other aspects of health care delivery in the United States, the entrenchment of managed care practices has significantly affected the management of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Nurses continue to play a vital role in the delivery of health care in this venue, serving as the primary conduit between patients, physicians, and payers. One important aspect of the nurse's interaction within this system is in the management of adverse effects, since prompt management of these effects can minimize discomfort and inconvenience to the patient, save time for the physician, and reduce overall health care costs. Physician-directed management algorithms facilitate prompt intervention in a variety of situations, by providing a proven framework through which the clinician can proceed. A series of representative algorithms are presented, all of which may be implemented as provided or customized to fit the needs of any individual practice. |
