Implementation of electronic chemotherapy ordering: an opportunity to improve evidence-based oncology care.

Purpose: The degree to which electronic health records (EHRs) enhance the quality of patient care depends on use of the system to monitor and improve practice. In planning the transition to Epic's Beacon electronic chemotherapy ordering platform, we saw an opportunity to measure our performance and increase evidence-based practice.

Methods: Advanced planning began 2 years before implementation and included formation of a chemotherapy council charged with reviewing references and approving each chemotherapy protocol; a readiness assessment; design of electronic flow-sheet adherent with Oncology Nursing Society guidelines.

The role of growth factors in malignancy: a focus on the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Objectives: To review the role of growth factors in the development of malignancy with a focus on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways. The clinical significance and prognostic implications of EGFR expression in malignancy will be discussed in addition to screening methods used for detection of EGFR expression.

Data Sources: Research articles and textbooks.

PRISM: Priority Symptom Management Project phase I: assessment.

Purpose/objectives: To provide an overview of the process, goals, and outcome recommendations from the assessment phase of the Oncology Nursing Society's Priority Symptom Management (PRISM) project and to provide the foundation for a series of evidence-based practice and qualitative systematic review articles generated from the first phase of PRISM.

Data Sources: Published articles, abstracts, and books; computerized databases; nonpublished research; personal communications; and proceedings of the PRISM summit meeting.

Data Synthesis: Symptom management is a key component in quality cancer care.