Oncology Care in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer-Personalizing the Treatment Plan.

With potentially curative targeted and immunotherapies for non-small cell lung cancer, long term survival of at least 5 to 10 years is increasingly possible. A personalized, holistic, and multidisciplinary home healthcare treatment plan can help cancer patients transition from acute to chronic disease management. Factors to be considered include the patient's goals, treatment-related risks, the degree of metastasis, acute symptom management needs, and the desire and ability to participate in the treatment plan.

Indwelling Pleural Catheters for Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Time for Action.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) resulting from metastatic spread to the pleura frequently occurs in patients with primary lung, breast, hematological, gastrointestinal, and gynecological cancers. These effusions tend to reaccumulate quickly, and the patient requires increasingly frequent thoracentesis. An indwelling pleural catheter allows for dramatic improvement in quality of life as the patient has the power to ease her/his own suffering by draining the effusion at home when shortness of breath and/or chest pain intensifies.

The economic impact of complex wound care on home health agencies.

The cost of care for home health clients with complicated wounds frequently exceeds reimbursement received from Medicare and other payer sources. As a result, home health agencies may be reluctant to accept this type of referral. Many of the costs associated with complex wound care can be substantially reduced by appropriate use of expensive therapies and dressings and establishment of a cost-effective wound care formulary.

Preventing and responding to acute kidney injury: how to recognize the incremental changes in kidney function that adversely affect patient outcomes.

Acute kidney injury is an independent risk factor for both prolonged length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality. Recent analysis shows that over the past decade the incidence of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rose rapidly in the United States, with associated death more than doubling. In 2007, the Acute Kidney Injury Network proposed a new classification system for acute kidney injury, which recognized that incremental changes in kidney function may adversely affect outcomes.

Clostridium difficile: preventing epidemic outbreaks in home health.

Clostridium difficile is not affected by alcohol-based hand rubs or most cleaning solutions. As a result, it spreads quickly and easily. Spores can survive for months on environmental surfaces.