LakeCountyApril 19, 2007
Oncology Nursing Society
It’s That Time Again!
Annual Chapter Dues $25
Please bring a check and
A copy of your National
ONS card to the May
Meeting or fax a copy to
Linda Gifford @ 866-608-4948. We will be
Chapter shirts can still be ordered, contact Barbara Lane @ 352-253-3082
Your help is needed NOW...to ensure important opportunities for oncology nurses. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has teamed with the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation to challenge all ONS members to support the SPRING FUNDRAISING APPEAL!
A tax-deductible gift of $10 or MORE to impact the future of oncology nursing education, research, and leadership!
CLICK HERE NOWand make your charitable gift...Wyeth is supporting you through a grant of $50,000 by helping to multiply your gift and each gift made by other oncology nurses.
Thank you for your support during the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Spring Appeal Challenge!
Your help is needed NOW...to ensure important opportunities for oncology nurses. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has teamed with the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation to challenge all ONS members to support the SPRING FUNDRAISING APPEAL!
A tax-deductible gift of $10 or MORE to impact the future of oncology nursing education, research, and leadership!
CLICK HERE NOWand make your charitable gift...Wyeth is supporting you through a grant of $50,000 by helping to multiply your gift and each gift made by other oncology nurses.
Thank you for your support during the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Spring Appeal Challenge!
P.O. Box 490833 Leesburg, Florida34749-0833
March 1, 2007
Dear Member,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Lake County Oncology Nursing Society. We are dedicated to the continued education of nurses in the oncology community of LakeCounty. In addition, we feel that the educational opportunities available to you through your membership, support the care of all oncology patients in our area.
This is the time of year when we update our membership list. Please submit your updated contact information, and a copy of your national membership card, along with your dues for our local chapter in the amount of $25.00 to the address listed.
Again, thank you for your interest in Lake County Oncology Nursing Society. I look forward to your continued support of oncology patients here in LakeCounty.
Sincerely,
Linda R. Arredondo, RN, CHPN
Treasurer
LakeCounty Oncology Nursing Society
352-267-5447
2007 Chapter Meetings, Dinner and Lecture
June 5th by Pharmion
July by Medimmune
August 7th by Hospice, Benefits of Pallitive Radiation Treatment in Cancer Patients, Speaker Dr. Purdon
September 4th by Novartis
Unless otherwise noted RSVP to Ellen at 326-2484 ext 1011. Remember always call Ellen to cancel even if RSVP was made to sponsor, otherwise a $10 charge will need to be paid.
Sign in and social is at 6p, program starts at 6:30p, your doc's are welcome to come, but they should RSVP also. Members are free, guest are $5.
New Book on Breast Cancer Arriving This Month
Up-to-Date and Comprehensive Breast Cancer Resource
With an abundance of literature and online resources available, nurses caring for patients with breast cancer can be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. Edited by Suzanne M. Mahon, this new volume in the Site-Specific Cancer Series provides you with an up-to-date and comprehensive resource on one of the most widely discussed, publicized, and feared forms of the disease.
Highlights Nursing Role in Breast Cancer Care
Featured in this new book is the critical role of the nurse in caring for patients with breast cancer. Breast Cancer addresses the disease from historical, epidemiologic, and clinical perspectives, and examines the pertinent issues related to cancer control, breast cancer treatment, psychosocial concerns, and management of complications related to cancer and its treatment.
Other Books in the Site-Specific Cancer Series
Special Online Only Pricing
Check out the rest of the books in the Site-Specific Cancer Series: Gastrointestinal Cancers, Head and Neck Cancer and Lung Cancer. In celebration of the new Breast Cancer volume, all Site-Specific books are on sale for $30 each! Simply type in promotional code PB7101 upon checkout.
Order now! This offer ends May 15, 2007.
“Pathways Provides Much Needed Support”
We, as oncology nurses, know what an important role hospice plays in the care of a terminally ill patient. Often, it is the nurse who recognizes the need and appropriateness of the patient for hospice services. We see the patients as they become more frail; we’re the first to notice a changed condition or the patient’s decreased functional capability due to the intimate nature of our practice.
In most cases, oncology nurses are comfortable referring patients who have finished therapy, or who have declined further therapy due to advanced disease or poor prognosis. We, as nurses, feel secure in these referrals and are confident the patient will be getting individualized care and support from the hospice staff.
What about the patient that needs some assistance but is receiving aggressive or curative treatment? What about the patient who may have a prognosis beyond six months? Such patients often are not “homebound” by Medicare definitions and cannot qualify for homecare.
There is another resource. At Hospice of Lake & Sumter, the program is called “Pathways”. It is a one of a kind, palliative care program which allows your patient comfort and additional community support together with the hope of active treatment.
Although Medicare and Medicaid, as payors, say that a patient must have a 6-month prognosis to be on hospice, Florida regulations permit hospice or palliative care services when the patient has a 1-year or so prognosis.
“Pathways” provides a nurse and social worker, available to support the patient in their home or Assisted Living Facility on a monthly basis. Nurses provide patient symptom management and keep the physician informed of the patient’s “at home” status. Social workers help patients with finding financial resources such as patient assistance programs for medications, help with the mountain of Medicaid and Disability paperwork, or just provide a listening ear and give emotional support to the patient and caregivers.
In addition, patients have access to the on-call staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can speak to our hospice chaplains if there is a spiritual need, and may be able to access volunteers to help with doctor visits or running errands.
And the best part…. It is a community service provided to the resident’s of Lake and SumterCounties by the Hospice of Lake & Sumter Foundation. The patient will not be billed for “Pathways” services.
So, your patients with advanced disease CAN access some of the many support services you expect from Hospice of Lake & Sumter, and continue to have the treatment they want and need.
As an oncology nurse and a hospice nurse, I see the need for programs of this type in our community and for our patients. I urge you to refer your patients that need help, to this valuable community program.
Linda R. Arredondo, RN, CHPN
Clinical Liaison
Hospice of Lake & Sumter
Board Members
President: Barbara Lane RN,OCN352-253-3082
President-Elect: Julie Arcaro MSN,ARNP-BC,AOCNP352-253-3810
Secretary: Cindi Nicholson RN,CRNI,OCN352-742-3346
Treasurer: Linda Arredondo RN,CHPN352-343-1341
Nominating Chair: Barbara OefingerBS,RN,OCN,CCRC352-323-5845
Membership Chair: Linda Gifford RN352-978-3997
Event Coordinator: Ellen Blesy RN,OCN352-326-2224
Historian: Dee Prosser-Shipley RN, BSN352-742-8940
Advocacy/Community Events: Rae Manning RN352-408-2022