Facing Cancer After Hours: Bringing Your Loved One to the Emergency Room Department of Emergency Medicine Kevin Biese, MD, MAT Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs Emergency Medicine Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine Jan Busby-Whitehead, MD, AGSF Professor and Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine Director, Center for Aging and Health Division of Geriatric Medicine Center for Aging and Health Division of Geriatric Medicine Center for Aging and Health

The challenges of bringing older adults to the ED

The particular challenges of bringing loved ones with cancer to the ED Making sure the doctors and nurses know your loved one’s medical history and medications Already feeling ill from the effects of cancer treatment

Reasons to go the UNC ED Open 24/ 7/ 365 Physicians and nurses with advanced training in caring for complicated cancer patients Physicians and nurses with advanced training in caring for older adults

Reasons to go the UNC ED Have the ability to quickly diagnose and treat changes in your condition Connect you quickly to your team of cancer doctors to make sure you get integrated care

Tips for going to the ED

#1: Bring the medications

#2: Ensure the triage team knows your loved one has cancer When possible, the triage nurse will help your loved one wait in an area with less infectious exposures

#3: Stay with your loved one when possible You are your loved one’s advocate and supporting historian 

#4: Know your loved one’s treatment wishes Know which interventions they want done if they are very sick

#5: Ask the ED doctor to contact your cancer team of doctors

#6: Prepare for ED discharge Tell the nurse what your understanding of the discharge instructions are Listen to the discharge instructions with your loved one Make sure you have what you need when you leave the ED and that you feel you are safe to go home

Keeping your loved one healthy takes a team: and you are on the team!