Shorter wait times and improved care are among the many improvements that nurse practitioners (NPs) have made at a local hospital. NPs have been leading a program since 2017 that helps cancer patients in the long term. The clinics care for individuals dealing with a variety of cancers.
“I find prostate cancer is really more of a journey for these patients,” said NP Matthew Parezanovic. He and Sari Belzycki cared for around 1,000 this year alone. Their compassionate care allows them to build relationships with those they serve.
Matthew Parezanovic (left) and Sari Belzycki (right)
Source: London Health Sciences Centre
The London Health Sciences Centre employees have saved time for their oncologist coworkers. “They’ve seen the oncologist in their consultation, maybe one or two follow ups. Everything’s going in the right direction for that individual. So this is a way to move those patients into a focused clinic so that they can be followed up in the long term,” said Parezanovic. LHSC says the duo have saved the equivalent of 62 appointments.
The work Parezanovic and his team do includes following patients as they undergo treatment, managing symptoms, coordinating referrals, and providing education.
The initiative has been incredibly successful and has even been implemented outside LHSC. “It’s been nice to see the influence and the impact of our program on other centres adopting our model,” said Parezanovic.
One in two Canadians can expect to see a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. LHSC is hoping to expand the initiative even further. This care would include additional therapies to prevent cancer recurrence.
