SCOUT orientation can help alleviate the working process of the challenges in the future
Because of the influence of the United States COVID - 19 pandemic, hospital and breast center round the country are restricted or delay the screening, diagnosis and surgery.The 325000 expected in the United States in the diagnosis and treatment of 2020 cases of breast cancer has caused an unprecedented impact.1
In the foreseeable future, these delays and closing will affect medical service provision.Although the health crisis obviously need immediate attention, but we also need to think about the longer term, once remove restrictions, how to effectively manage the backlog of patients with breast cancer.
Merit Oncology doctors around are linked, share their management experience of patients with mammary gland during COVID - 19, challenges and solutions.Merit Cafe is a health care workers gathered together, and in the online interactive hosted by radiologists and surgeons in the BBS BBS to share best practices and experience.Discussion focuses on the related topics, including COVID - 19 during a pandemic nursing in patients with breast disease classification, operation efficiency, minimize the patient/health workers contact, and planning the post-pandemic expected downstream of the challenge.
Join the quiz is Vincent and Merit in Reid, m.d., tin rapids, Iowa, Mercy 's Hall - Perrine cancer center in surgical oncologist, also Merit was one of the first host of the Cafe
Whether your organization developed breast cancer surgery treatment guidelines?
Different organizations and associations has issued guidelines on management elective surgical procedures.It is important to note that they all have a common goal, namely to minimize the patient and the doctor's contact and keep personal protective equipment (PPE).This guide is based on your facilities COVID - 19 census for low to medium hypothesis.Once appear COVID - 19, will become more strict guidelines.Guidelines are also constantly updated, so I know the latest revision is very important in a timely manner.
At present, in our community, we are in a phase of low to moderate.However, when I am with the rest of the country, especially on the east coast of Merit Cafe colleagues, they are very different.Have the opportunity to understand what they are doing planning different scenarios is very helpful to me.
To access the latest guide (In English)COVID - 19 pandemic breast cancer alliance, the alliance by the American society of breast surgeons (ASBrS), national breast center certification program (NAPBC), national comprehensive care network (NCCN), the cancer council (CoC) and representatives of the radiological society of America (ACR).
The hospital according to you and your area exposed situation, when your hospital lift restrictions, now you are working on plans to help patients and staff?
Our priority is to help ease the patients of stress and anxiety in this difficult period, not only about their cancer, also COVID - 19 about now.All of our breast cancer patients in the evaluation of a multidisciplinary team, to develop the recommended plan of care.Delayed surgery for some patients, for those patients appropriately, they will accept preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) or endocrine therapy.We are using SCOUT ® to locate these patients, even if they are within a few months not surgery, the product can also be placed safely and effectively.Once they are ready for operation, which will simplify the process.If need immediate surgery, the patients will undergo surgery.
Under the right circumstances, we also use the SCOUT when biopsy to locate.At Mercy, we trekked for treatment for some patients.When we can cancel the operation, we will reduce a day of travel, reduces the interaction between patients and doctors, and keep the personal protective equipment.It is very important in all aspects.
How do you expect you now is implementing the strategy will help to improve the schedule overdue situation all hospital department?
I see two things, first in our place SCOUT in surgical patients.Our radiology just catch up with the routine mammograms quantity will be stretched.Already waiting for cancer surgery patients 2-4 months if must locate before the surgery, they won't be willing to wait for more than the time required for a long time.If radiology arrangement lead to additional delay, they will become very impatient.
The second is the remote medical treatment.Our cancer plan takes about two years to implement meaningful remote medical plan.Now fast forward to the new pandemic, we made great progress in implementation.We are now video remote medical consultation with patients, so they don't have to wait for advice.This is a good tool, let me have time to discuss options with my patients.
Are you seeing COVID - 19 limit any unexpected results?
I see more and more patients choose partial resection of the lesions rather than a mastectomy.Obviously, in some clinical cases, is the only choice of mastectomy, but due to the current operation restrictions, we cannot rebuild, this part of the surgery was postponed.Partial resection of the lesions of candidates, who tend to choose mastectomy of women are now choose partial resection of the lesions.
I found the most inspirational as a result, we are all together in a powerful way.I am and I may never have the chance to meet colleagues, we are mutual sharing and learning.I'm looking forward to one day our medical association to get together again, we can meet in person.
In this difficult time, you said to your breast cancer?
I think the most important information for patients is at ease, no matter what is the recommended treatment, they are not in danger.Is now under our careful evaluation of all the options, even in the COVID - 19 environment, we are trying to ensure the safety of everyone, we will not affect their cancer care.I also assure them that once lifted restrictions, has been doing everything we can to ensure that they can enter the next treatment as soon as possible.