Ongoing Management Of Patients Research Articles

Optimising remote monitoring for cardiac implantable electronic devices: a UK Delphi consensus

BackgroundRemote monitoring (RM) is recommended for the ongoing management of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Despite its benefits, RM adoption has increased the workload for cardiac rhythm management...

P.046 Review of the management of Wernicke encephalopathy in pediatrics

Background: Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological emergency defined by acute encephalopathy, oculomotor dysfunction, and ataxia. Pediatric cases of WE are underdiagnosed despite having a similar incidence to adults. There are no available treatment guidelines for pediatric WE. Prompt treatment with thiamine can prevent devastating consequences. Methods: A rapid review of the literature of the past 20 years with selected relevant older articles was conducted for the research question “How does child and adolescent thiamine therapy management for Wernicke Encephalopathy compare to adult guidelines?” All articles reporting the investigation, management and treatment of Wernicke encephalopathy – both non alcohol related and alcohol-related pediatric cases – were included. Articles not reporting clinical outcomes were excluded. Results: Eleven case studies including one available review article, met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. An algorithm was created for the organization of published reports of the management of WE for children and adolescents. Key considerations were included for the prevention, identification, acute and ongoing management of patients with WE. Conclusions: The recognition of risk factors for thiamine deficiency and symptoms of acute WE should prompt immediate treatment with thiamine – as a routine and safe therapy in the pediatric population.

Practical Considerations for Managing Pregnancy in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Dispelling the Myths.

Lack of consistent data and guidance have led to variations between clinicians in the management of pregnancy in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Pregnant and/or lactating women are often excluded from clinical trials conducted in MS, and thus, the labeling for most disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) excludes use during pregnancy. This has led to heterogeneity in interpretation and labeling regarding the safety of DMTs during pregnancy and lactation and the required preconception washout periods. This review identifies key themes where there is conflicting information surrounding family planning and pregnancy in MS, focusing on the most common discussion points between physicians and patients during preconception planning, pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation. The goal was to inform the patient-physician conversation and provide best practice recommendations based on expert clinical expertise and experience. We outline the latest evidence-based data for DMT use during pregnancy and lactation, the effect of MS on fertility and fertility treatments, the risk of adverse pregnancy and delivery outcomes, the risk of postpartum relapse, and immunization and clinical imaging safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Management of family planning and pregnancy in patients with MS requires the most current information. Health care providers should discuss family planning early and frequently with patients with MS, and partners where practicable. Because management of pregnant people with MS will often require a risk/benefit analysis of their needs, shared decision-making in family planning discussions is emphasized. Additional data are needed for specific and underrepresented populations with MS (e.g., single parents or those from the LGBTQ+ community) and those at risk of racial and socioeconomic disparities in care. Pregnancy registries and the design and conduct of clinical trials focused on pregnant and lactating patients should provide additional data to guide the ongoing management of patients with MS.

Sustained elimination of parenteral support in adult patients with under 60 cm of small intestine: A case series.

Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) are often managed by expert multidisciplinary teams. One of the main goals in the management of SBS is the weaning of parenteral support (PS). Weaning of PS removes the risks associated with long-term central line placement and eliminates the need for intestinal transplant. Whereas several papers detail the ongoing care and management of patients with SBS who are dependent on PS, there are few reports discussing the successful weaning of PS in this patient population. We present five case studies examining weaning of PS in adult patients with <60-cm small bowel and partial or full colon who were enrolled in a multidisciplinary adult intestinal rehabilitation program. The case studies demonstrate weaning can occur >2 years after initial assessment and enrollment in an expert program. The ability of the program to focus on individualized care and frequent patient communication is key to PS weaning in patients with SBS.

Understanding the role of psychiatrists in the diagnosis and management of mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease dementia: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder and the most common cause of dementia. The clinical continuum of AD ranges from asymptomatic disease to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), followed by AD dementia, categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Almost one-third of patients suspected of having MCI or mild AD dementia are referred to specialists including psychiatrists. We sought to better understand the role that psychiatrists play in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with all-cause MCI or mild AD dementia.MethodsWe conducted an anonymous, online survey among physicians in the United States between February 4, 2021, and March 1, 2021. We surveyed psychiatrists, primary care physicians (PCPs), geriatricians, and neurologists who treat patients with all-cause MCI or mild AD dementia.ResultsA total of 301 physicians participated in the survey, 50 of whom were psychiatrists. Of their patients with all-cause MCI or mild AD dementia, psychiatrists reported personally diagnosing two-thirds (67%). Psychiatrists used various methods to diagnose MCI or mild AD dementia including mental status testing (94%), review of patient medical history (86%), and neurological exams (61%). Upon diagnosis, psychiatrists reported most commonly discussing treatments (86%), management strategies (80%), disease progression (72%), and etiology of MCI or mild AD dementia (72%) with their patients. Most psychiatrists surveyed (82%) reported receiving advanced formal training in MCI and AD dementia care, primarily via residency training (38%), continuing medical education (22%) or fellowship (18%). Additionally, almost all psychiatrists (92%) reported receiving referrals for ongoing management of patients with MCI or mild AD dementia, primarily from PCPs or neurologists. However, only 46% of psychiatrists viewed themselves as the coordinator of care for their patients with MCI or mild AD dementia.ConclusionsMany psychiatrists indicated that they were well-informed about MCI and AD dementia and have a strong interest in providing care for these patients. They can provide timely and accurate diagnosis of clinical MCI and mild AD dementia and develop optimal treatment plans for patients. Although many psychiatrists consider other physicians to be the care coordinators for patients with MCI and mild AD dementia, psychiatrists can play a key role in diagnosing and managing patients with MCI and mild AD dementia.Graphical

Best Practices for the Management of Patients with Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease According to a German Nationwide Analysis of Expert Centers.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease caused by infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). International guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on appropriate diagnosis and treatment strategies, but there is a need for sharing day-to-day best practice between treatment centers to optimize patient care. This is particularly valuable for rare diseases like NTM-PD. In this cross-sectional analysis of NTM-PD management in Germany, medical and administrative staff from seven treatment centers were interviewed to identify best practice in the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients with NTM-PD, including related hospital infrastructure and administration processes. A prioritization led to a collection of best practices for the management of patients with NTM-PD in Germany, which is presented here. Selected current best practices included performance of regular sputum tests for diagnosis, use of medical reports, and regular follow-up visits as well as increased interaction between physicians across different specialties. Future best practices that may be implemented to overcome current barriers comprised disease awareness activities, patient empowerment, and new approaches to enhance physician interaction. Challenges related to their implementation are also discussed and will help to raise disease awareness. The presented best practices may guide and optimize patient management in other centers.

ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF NATIONAL BOAST GUIDANCE ON MDT MANAGEMENT OF PROBLEMATIC KNEE ARTHROPLASTIES ACROSS OUR TRUST

AbstractIntroductionNational BOAST guidelines have been developed to coordinate and improve the standard of care for all patients with problems after knee replacement surgery. Since the inception of these guidelines we wanted to assess the impact of these guidelines on patients and their pathways following their discussions at our weekly revision MDT meetings.MethodologyTrust casenotes programs, PACS software and MDT notes were evaluated over the past 12 months (January 2022 to December 2022) to collect data for all patients with problematic knee replacements. Current in-patients discussed at MDT were excluded.ResultsIn total 52 patients with problematic knees were discussed. In terms of the SPECIFIC criteria described in BOAST guidelines, 39% met one or more of these criteria (component loosening, infection, instability, component wear) of which 90% are have had or planned for revision surgery. Of those (61%) not meeting this criteria, 77% have been deemed not to have a surgical cause after further investigations with the rest still pending further investigation.ConclusionThe publication of guidelines has aided in the ongoing management of patients with problematic knee replacements. From our MDT discussions over the last year, its clear that when appropriately investigated and a cause found from the SPECIFIC criteria, patients are offered appropriate revision surgery.Further work with longer-term outcomes from MDT discussions would help to evaluate the impact of these discussions on which problematic knees benefit most from revision surgery and the effect on knee revision networks.

Symptomatic thoracic epidural lipomatosis with syringomyelia: illustrative case.

Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a rare but well-described disease. Here the authors present an extraordinary co-occurrence of spinal epidural lipomatosis with syringomyelia that did not improve after laminoplasty but required duroplasty as a definitive treatment. This is the seventh case in the literature describing a co-occurrence of spinal epidural lipomatosis and syringomyelia. The pragmatic argument for a causative relationship between 2 phenomena is syrinxes reduction after surgery for spinal epidural lipomatosis. Additionally, duroplasty for spinal epidural lipomatosis in the setting of syringomyelia has not previously been reported. Duroplasty offers much better reconstruction of the subarachnoid space as compared with extradural decompression surgeries. It is one of the treatment options for spinal epidural lipomatosis. Last, most of the patients described in the literature with secondary syringomyelia were women with diabetes mellitus. The co-occurrence of spinal epidural lipomatosis and syringomyelia is extremely rare. Neurological deficits in such cases respond well to surgical treatment. Accordingly, each case described in the literature resulted in syringomyelia reduction or resolution after surgery. Duroplasty may be necessary in selected cases of spinal epidural lipomatosis. Close follow-up and ongoing management of patients with epidural lipomatosis is therefore important.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients and Obstetricians/Gynecologists.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder commonly affecting women of reproductive age. Compared with women without PCOS, women with PCOS are more likely to have overweight or obesity. Materials and Methods: To better understand the role of obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in diagnosis and treatment of patients with PCOS and obesity, we conducted an anonymous, United States population-based, cross-sectional online survey with 251 patients with PCOS and obesity and 305 health care professionals (HCPs), of which 125 were OB/GYNs. Results: In the most common patient journey, most patients were diagnosed (66%) and treated (59%) by OB/GYNs. Most patients (51%) considered OB/GYNs to be the coordinator of their PCOS care. For ongoing management of patients with PCOS and obesity, OB/GYNs reported prescribing general improvements in lifestyle (91%), oral contraceptives (91%), metformin (85%), letrozole (74%), spironolactone (71%), specific diets (60%), medroxyprogesterone (45%), and anti-obesity medications (27%). OB/GYNs were significantly more likely than other HCPs surveyed to strongly agree with the statement that they do not know enough about anti-obesity medications to feel comfortable prescribing them to their patients with PCOS and obesity (p < 0.05). Most OB/GYNs believed that consultation with a dietitian/nutritionist (75%) or access to a physician who specializes in obesity (67%) were the most beneficial types of support for their patients with PCOS and obesity. Conclusions: OB/GYNs recognize the importance of obesity management for the treatment of PCOS; however, utilization of effective obesity tools to treat these patients is low. OB/GYNs may benefit from additional education on obesity management strategies.

ODP628 Quality Improvement Project (QIP) On Management Of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) In Adults In A District General Hospital.

Abstract Aim A Quality Improvement Project was conducted to assess if Bedford Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was meeting current Trust guidelines for the diagnosis and management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in adult patients. Method Retrospective data was collected from adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of DKA from January 2020 to December 2020. Data was collected for five key standards based on Trust guidelines: (1) Correct diagnosis of DKA, (2) Correct prescription of Intravenous (IV) fluids and potassium chloride (KCL) replacement, (3) Switching from Fixed Rate Intravenous Insulin Infusion (FRIII) to Variable Rate Intravenous Insulin Infusion (VRIII) following resolution of DKA, (4) The prescription of long-acting insulin during FRIII/VRIII and (5) Appropriate biochemical monitoring via regular venous blood gases (VBGs). Following data analysis, an intervention phase (with distribution of 'DKA diagnosis and management' posters, DKA teaching sessions and email updates on DKA management for medical doctors) was implemented. The cycle was repeated a further two times, with the most recent cycle based on patients admitted between August to November 2021. Results The first cycle consisted of 25 patients. Results showed a 72% adherence to Standard 1, a 64% adherence to Standard 3 and a 76% adherence to Standard 5. There was a notably low adherence to Trust guidelines for Standards 2 and 5, which were 32% and 12% respectively. After the intervention phases described earlier, results from the final cycle of 20 patients admitted between August to November 2021 showed significant improvement in standards 1,3 and 4 with 90%, 100% and 100% adherence to Trust guidelines respectively. Although there was a slight improvement in biochemical monitoring of patients with regular VBGs (20% adherence in the final cycle versus 12% in the first cycle), the correct prescription of IV fluids and KCL replacement remained low (17% adherence in the final cycle versus 32%). Conclusion Awareness and diagnosis of DKA remains high at Bedford Hospital, however there are issues regarding the ongoing management of DKA patients. In particular, the correct prescription of IV fluids with KCL replacement, and regular biochemical monitoring. There is still a lack of awareness as to the appropriate rate of IV fluid resuscitation, and the correct monitoring and replacement of potassium, as well as pH. Recommended changes to improve DKA management are to expand teaching sessions to include Emergency Department (ED) doctors, as well as ED and medical nursing staff, to improve awareness of the correct management and diagnosis of DKA. Further emphasis will be placed on keeping a paper copy of the Trust Adult DKA management protocol in the patients’ notes. Presentation: No date and time listed

Specialty Pharmacy Disease Screening and Routine Assessments for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are inflammatory diseases which require frequent monitoring to optimize therapy. Specialty pharmacists are in the unique position to assist in the screening and monitoring of patients with complex, chronic diseases. Objectives: The study objective is to describe the impact of pharmacist screening services in two patient populations. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the goal is to describe outcome monitoring through disease severity, therapeutic switches, and adherence rates. In patients with psoriasis, the aim is to describe the utilization of a screening for psoriatic arthritis and the resulting number of potential referrals to medical providers. Methods: The retrospective study patient population consisted of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who filled one or more prescriptions at a specialty pharmacy between 8/22/2017 and 9/26/2018, and psoriasis patients who filled between 6/1/2021 to 9/1/2021. A Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) score was collected during a refill coordination call every three months throughout the 13-month period for RA patients, and a Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) scores reported throughout the stated timeline.1,2 Data was imported from the pharmacy’s electronic medical record into an Excel spreadsheet with each row representing a unique patient. Following data validation, descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, and percentages were calculated to characterize the sample. Statistical significance was determined at an alpha of 0.05. Results: Of the patients who had 4 assessments for RAPID3, the disease severity category significantly improved from assessment 1 to assessment 4 (p=0.021) when analyzed using a chi-square test. The RAPID3 assessment of patients with RA by pharmacists in a specialty setting identified responders (n=21, 25.6%) and stable patients (n=51, 63%), which reinforces current therapy, and non-responders (n=10, 12.2%), who may benefit from referral to their provider for reevaluation of their therapeutic plan. The PEST screening of patients with psoriasis by pharmacists in a specialty setting identified 11 of 32 patients (34%) who scored a 3 or higher and who may benefit from a referral to a rheumatologist for further assessment of psoriatic arthritis activity. Conclusion: Specialty pharmacists are an essential part of ongoing assessment and management of patients with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Screening and monitoring of patients by pharmacists can identify the need for referral to a medical provider.

Global best practices consensus: Long-term management of patients with hybrid centrifugal flow left ventricular assist device support

ObjectivesSix months after withdrawal of the HeartWare HVAD System (HVAD; Medtronic) from sale, approximately 4000 patients continue ongoing support with this device. In light of the diminishing experience, this global consensus document summarizes key management recommendations. MethodsInternational experts with experience in the management of patients with ongoing HVAD support were invited to summarize key aspects of patient and pump management and highlight differences in the current HeartMate 3 (Abbott Laboratories) ventricular assist device. Clinicians from high-implanting HVAD sites reviewed current literature and reported experience to generate a consensus statement. ResultsSpecific guidelines to assist in the management of ongoing HVAD patients are developed. Key management protocols and helpful techniques developed from experienced clinicians are combined into a short guideline document. As experience with HeartMate 3 increases, key differences in approach to management are highlighted, where appropriate. ConclusionsWith decreasing worldwide experience in the ongoing management of HVAD-supported patients, this consensus guideline provides a summary of best practice techniques from international centers. Differences in HeartMate 3 management are highlighted.

Characterizing posttraumatic stress disorder in primary care using electronic medical records: a retrospective cohort study.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health disorder associated with significant morbidity and economic cost. Primary care providers are frequently involved in the ongoing management of patients experiencing PTSD, as well as related comorbid conditions. Despite recognized need to enhance PTSD management in primary care settings, knowledge regarding its prevalence in these settings is limited. To apply a validated case definition of PTSD to electronic medical records (EMRs) of family physicians and nurse practitioners participating in the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN). Retrospective cross-sectional study. This study accessed de-identified EMR from 1,574 primary care providers participating in the CPCSSN. The study population included all patients with at least one visit to a primary care provider participating in the CPCSSN between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019 (N = 689,301). We identified patients with PTSD and described associations between PTSD and patient characteristics (including sex, age, geography, depression, anxiety, medical comorbidities, substance use and social and material deprivation) using multivariable logistic regression models. Among the 689,301 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 8,213 (1.2%) had a diagnosis of PTSD. Patients with PTSD were significantly more likely to reside in an urban location (84.9% vs. 80.4%; p-value <.0001) and have one or more comorbid conditions (90.8% vs. 70.2%; p-value <.0001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, patients with depression (OR 4.8; 95%CI 4.6-5.1) and anxiety (OR 2.2; 95%CI 2.1-2.3) had increased odds of having PTSD compared to patients without depression or anxiety. Patients with alcohol (OR 1.8; 95%CI 1.6-1.9) and drug (OR 3.1; 95%CI 2.9-3.3) use disorders had significantly higher odds of PTSD compared to patients without these disorders. Patients in the most deprived neighborhoods based on census data had 4.2 times higher odds of have PTSD (95%CI 3.2-5.43) compared to patients in the least deprived areas. This is the first study to describe PTSD prevalence in a large Canadian sample of primary care patients using an EMR-based case definition. Characterizing patients with PTSD in primary care may improve disease surveillance and inform the interdisciplinary care required to manage PTSD symptoms.

Value of pre-intervention CT perfusion imaging in acute ischemic stroke prognosis.

Noninvasive imaging plays an important role in acute stroke towards diagnosis and ongoing management of patients. Systemic thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) are proven treatments currently used in standards of care in acute stroke settings. The role of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in selecting patients with large vessel occlusion for EVT is well established. However, the value of CT perfusion (CTP) imaging in predicting outcomes after stroke remains ambiguous. This article critically evaluates the value of multimodal CT imaging in early diagnosis and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke with a focus on the role of CTP in delineating tissue characteristics, patient selection, and outcomes after reperfusion therapy. Insights on various technical and clinical considerations relevant to CTP applications in acute ischemic stroke, recommendations for existing workflow, and future areas of research are discussed.

Clinical suspicion of pancreatic cancer despite negative endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

The early and accurate diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is vital for improving the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and to provide patients with the best chance of survival. While endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been demonstrated to be a reliable and accurate diagnostic tool for solid pancreatic neoplasms, the ongoing management of patients with a high clinical suspicion for malignancy but with a negative EUS-FNA biopsy result can prove a challenge. We describe five patients from a single centre who presented for further work-up of a pancreatic mass and/or imaging features concerning for a periampullary malignancy. All patients had at least one EUS-FNA biopsy performed which returned no malignant cells on cytology. Despite these negative cytology results, all patients underwent further invasive investigation through upfront resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy) or extra-pancreatic biopsy (laparoscopic biopsy of peritoneal nodule) due to worrisome features on imaging, biochemical factors and clinical presentation culminating in a high degree of suspicion for malignancy. The final tissue histopathological diagnosis in all patients was pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This case series highlights the important clinical findings, imaging and biochemical features which need to be considered in patients who have high suspicion for malignancy despite having a negative EUS-FNA cytology result. In these patients with a high index of suspicion, surgical intervention through an upfront resection or further invasive investigation should not be delayed.

Current management of adults receiving oral anti-cancer medications: A scoping review.

Oral anti-cancer medication (OAM) has revolutionised oncology care. Due to their potential toxicities and associated safety challenges ongoing assessment and monitoring is essential; currently generally performed in acute care settings. Internationally there exists a transformative vision to shift patient care from acute to primary care. A nurse-led integrated model of care could be developed for OAM patient management in primary care. The aim of this study was to examine international literature regarding current clinical management practices for assessment and monitoring of patients receiving OAM. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, databases MEDLINE, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched for English studies published between 2010 and 2020 using keywords: assessment, cancer, care, management, oral anticancer medications. Articles were screened and assessed for eligibility. From eligible studies, data were extracted to summarize, collate and make a narrative account of the findings. 2261 papers were reviewed, 14 met inclusion criteria. Three phases of management are reported: 1. Patient treatment plan development; 2. Patient education; 3. Patient monitoring. Within these phases seven specific stages of care were identified broadly representing the patient's journey: (1) treatment decision, (2) prescribing of OAM, (3) OAM dispensing and administration, (4) maximising patient safety (5) ongoing patient assessment (6) patient support (7) communication with other health-care professionals. Despite a paucity of international literature, a dedicated OAM clinic was endorsed as a means to achieve improved care. Nurses and pharmacists were identified as being of particular importance especially in education and ongoing management of patients receiving OAMs.

The Expanding Role of Quantitative Pupillometry in the Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury is a rapidly increasing source of morbidity and mortality across the world. As such, the evaluation and management of traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild to severe are under active investigation. Over the last two decades, quantitative pupillometry has been increasingly found to be useful in both the immediate evaluation and ongoing management of traumatic brain injured patients. Given these findings and the portability and ease of use of modern pupillometers, further adoption and deployment of quantitative pupillometers into the preclinical and hospital settings of both resource rich and medically austere environments.

ASNC/AHA/ASE/EANM/HFSA/ISA/SCMR/SNMMI Expert Consensus Recommendations for Multimodality Imaging in Cardiac Amyloidosis: Part 1 of 2-Evidence Base and Standardized Methods of Imaging.

ASNC/AHA/ASE/EANM/HFSA/ISA/SCMR/SNMMI Expert Consensus Recommendations for Multimodality Imaging in Cardiac Amyloidosis: Part 1 of 2-Evidence Base and Standardized Methods of Imaging.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the oncologic care continuum: urgent need to restore patients care to pre-COVID-19 era

AbstractBackground:Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death, and it is estimated that over 18·1 million new cases are diagnosed annually. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted almost every aspect of the provision and management of cancer care worldwide. The time-critical nature of COVID-19 diagnosis and the large number of patients requiring hospitalisation necessitated the rerouting of already limited resources available for cancer services and programmes to the care of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the stringent social distancing, restricted in-hospital visits and lockdown measures instituted by various governments resulted in the disruption of the oncologic continuum including screening, diagnostic and prevention programmes, treatments and follow-up services as well as research and clinical trial programmes.Materials and Methods:We searched several databases from October 2020 to January 2021 for relevant studies published in English between 2020 and 2021 and reporting on the impact of COVID-19 on the cancer care continuum. This narrative review paper describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cancer patient care continuum from screening and prevention to treatments and ongoing management of patients.Conclusions:The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted cancer care and the management of cancer services and patients. Nevertheless, the oncology healthcare communities worldwide have done phenomenal work with joint and collaborative efforts, utilising best available evidence-based guidelines to continue to give safe and effective treatments for cancer patients while maintaining the safety of patients, healthcare professionals and the general population. Nevertheless, several healthcare centres are now faced with significant challenges with the management of the backlog of screening, diagnosis and treatment cases. It is imperative that governments, leaders of healthcare centres and healthcare professionals take all necessary actions and policies focused on minimising further system-level delays to cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment initiation and clearing of all backlogs cases from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to mitigate the negative impact on cancer outcomes.

Improving the treatment of patients with dual diagnosis in emergency departments.

Dual diagnosis involves the co-occurrence of severe mental illness and substance misuse. Recent guidance has sought to improve the initial identification of dual diagnosis and the ongoing management of patients with confirmed dual diagnoses. However, service provision between mental health teams and emergency departments (EDs) can be disjointed, resulting in suboptimal care. This article explores the care of patients who present at EDs with symptoms arising from a combination of severe mental illness and substance misuse. The author aims to alter the approach of multidisciplinary teams by applying change management theory, resulting in patients being treated by multiple healthcare disciplines in a more coordinated way. This will be demonstrated through a case study that follows a patient with dual diagnosis on the journey through an emergency department. Guidelines identifying best practice will be referred to and care failings in the patient's journey will be analysed. The author also provides an overview of how change management theory can be used to implement a new protocol for managing the treatment of patients with a dual diagnosis.