1. 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

2. The challenges of bringing older adults to the ED

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Tips for going to the ED

7. #1: Bring the medications

8. #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

9. #3: Stay with your loved one when possible
You are your loved one’s advocate and supporting historian 

10. #4: Know your loved one’s treatment wishes
Know which interventions they want done if they are very sick

11. #5: Ask the ED doctor to contact your cancer team of doctors

12. #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

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