The Valley Hospital’s Distress Management Thermometer Offers a Valuable Screening Tool for Psychosocial Cancer Care
January 16, 2013
Ridgewood NJ, Research has shown that distress can compromise the recovery process for a patient diagnosed with cancer. It can interfere with a patient’s ability to cope with the rigors of cancer therapy, lessen motivation to complete treatment, and even impact on the body’s ability to effectively fight disease.
For someone undergoing cancer treatment and recover, stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including the diagnosis itself, concerns about how the cancer will be perceived by friends and family, how treatment and recovery will impact the ability to work, anxiety about treatment plans, and worries about medical bills.
In its ongoing mission to provide oncology patients with the highest quality cancer care, The Valley Hospital‘s Blumenthal Cancer Center, located in Paramus, N.J., has incorporated psychosocial distress screening into its routine treatment plan for patients diagnosed with cancer. Prior to beginning treatment, patients are asked to complete a brief questionnaire — called the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Management Thermometer — that is designed to identify any distress they are experiencing in key areas of their lives. Patients rate the degree of overall distress they are currently experiencing from 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. In addition, they are asked to check off any particular problem areas in their lives that may be contributing to their stress, including family issues, financial considerations, and physical and/or emotional concerns.
The questionnaire is then evaluated by hospital staff trained to identify areas that may indicate a need for psychosocial intervention. Patients are reevaluated at regular intervals throughout their course of treatment.
According to Valley Hospital Oncology Social Worker, Veronica Dalcero, “The Distress Management Thermometer is an important tool for addressing the physical and psychological side effects of cancer and its treatment protocols that patients may not readily recognize when starting treatment. By addressing stress factors that could negatively impact on effective treatment and potential outcomes we can more effectively treat the whole person.”
The Distress Management Thermometer is currently being implemented in the Departments of Radiation, Chemotherapy and Infusion Therapy.
To find out more about the programs and services offered at Valley’s Blumenthal Cancer Center, please visit www.ValleyHealth.com/Oncology.
