Sheryl A. Riley, RN, OCN, CMCN

For decades, healthcare professionals have worked diligently to teach individuals that screening is a valuable tool for preventing and detecting cancer. This has not been an easy mission, and nurses and physicians have had to debunk the myths, bias, and misinformation that deter patients from getting screened annually or according to specific guidelines set forth by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Although clinicians have been telling their patients—and the population at large—not to put off cancer screening because it saves lives, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of this year, the dialogue changed. Read More ›

How many times over the course of your career have you thought about joining a professional organization? With only so much time, energy, and resources to go around, it is important to be selective and choose associations that will meet your professional needs, work within your schedule, and add value to your professional life.

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Strategizing patients by determining which patients and what volume of patients will require the most resources is essential to positioning your practice for a successful future. Any business model would identify the needs of a population before defining what services should be brought to a given area, and medical practices should follow suit. Read More ›

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The majority of care managers and social workers already know that prioritizing patients by risk is a critical component of effective care management, but risk can mean different things to different people. Therefore, the tool you use or choose to create is vital to proper risk assessment. Read More ›

Because of our aging population and the preponderance of cancer in that group, it is important that care management be rendered before, during, and after treatment. Patients aged >65 years often require an increased number of resources, services, and assistance. Read More ›

Last month, I discussed the barriers to obtaining nutritional support for patients with cancer. This second article is focused on the return on investment to all stakeholders from ensuring nutritional support for patients with cancer. Read More ›

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was created by the government to provide patients access to affordable medicines and services they need, “especially for the sickest among us,”¹ but from what I have uncovered, at least in cancer care, this may not be the case. Read More ›

The goal of cancer treatment is to destroy cancer cells, whether through surgery, radiation, drug therapies, or a combination of these. During the course of these treatments, however, healthy cells can also be damaged or destroyed, leading to unpleasant side effects such as electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, weight loss, fatigue, infection, lack of appetite, mouth sores, skin irritations, anemia, and depression. Read More ›

Changes in our economy and healthcare system (ie, the Affordable Care Act, accountable care organizations, evolving reimbursement models) have given birth to a new member of the healthcare team: the financial advocate. Read More ›

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The healthcare market has begun to redefine or change the qualifications of the care coordinator/manager. This new definition is not being driven by the new care models, service changes, or qualifications. Read More ›