This elective rotation allows the resident to strengthen his or her clinical skills in oncology practice in the outpatient setting. Focus will be placed on understanding the top malignancies (breast, lung and colon) and their treatment along with complications and supportive issues related to each cancer.  The resident will be involved in activities such as direct patient interaction, physician consultation, and other interdisciplinary relationships to include nursing, nutrition, social work and the radiation oncology team.  Throughout the month, the resident will be responsible for intravenous chemotherapy preparation, observation of chemotherapy administration, reviewing new chemotherapy orders and patient profiles, and patient counseling/education.

Resident Learning Activities

1. Participate in oncology rounds with physician and follow the progress of selected patients

2. Provide patient education on new chemotherapy regimens with oncology nurse educator

3. Provide patient counseling to cancer patients who receive outpatient prescriptions from Pavilion Pharmacy

4. Prepare and dispense chemotherapy

5. Review and assess chemotherapy orders for appropriateness, accuracy and completeness

6. Review patient medication profiles and allergies for possible adverse drug reaction and/or drug-drug interactions and document appropriately

7. Answer drug information questions from physicians, nurses, dieticians, patients and families

8. Understand financial impact of medication therapy on cancer patients through time with social work

9. Familiarize with top malignancies (breast, lung, and colon) and their respective treatments

10. Familiarize with various cancer treatment-related complications and their respective treatments

11. Provide 1 oral presentation to consist of a patient case and a therapeutic discussion of oncology related problems

12. Provide 1 inservice to pharmacy/oncology team

13. Participate in interdisciplinary experiences through shadowing the following disciplines: oncology nurse, radiation oncologist, clinical dietician and social work.

14. Periodic didactic sessions with preceptor to discuss various cancer topics (e.g. nausea/vomiting, pain management, tumor lysis syndrome, malignant hypercalcemia, dose limiting side effects)