Green Bay Oncology is dedicated to reducing hospitalizations through patient education and prompt triage. We understand that patients usually prefer to be in the comfort of home and loved ones. We strive to maintain a low hospitalization rate. Every attempt is made to keep patients educated and prepared in the event that a new or unusual side effect appears. In case of a life threatening emergency, we encourage patients to call 911 or go to their nearest emergency room. For non-life threatening emergencies often times patients can be evaluated and treated at GBO, thus helping avoid emergency room visits and hospitalizations as often as possible.
Contacting our office as early in the day as possible allows GBO a better opportunity to review patient concerns and address them in clinic. We have a dedicated team of triage nurses trained to evaluate patient needs promptly and effectively. These nurses have direct lines of communication with all of the Green Bay Oncology providers.
Some examples of when to call GBO include:
- Temperature above 101 or shaking chills
- Inability to drink or retain four 9 oz glasses of liquid in a twenty-four hour period
- Uncontrolled pain
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Sudden onset of shortness of breath or a change in your normal breathing status
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Uncontrolled diarrhea
In many cases, patients can be seen by the doctor or nurse practitioner and be treated with supportive measures such as intravenous fluids for rehydration purposes or medications to control stomach upset. It is our goal to get all patients safely through treatment. By keeping patients and their care team educated on when to contact Green Bay Oncology, we can together reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and continue to strive for a symptom-free or an improved clinical state.