Collaboration with multiple occupations in team care

* Know the local resources and the level of understanding of lymphedema in medical and welfare personnel and examine the possibilities and methods of collaboration.

* Assess whether or not there are specialty outpatient clinic visits and the possibility and content of collaboration.

* Report to the attending physician in detail about the patient’s condition and care in home-visit nursing.

* Consider strategies for coping until the next visit with family, caregivers, and care managers.

* Consider and collaborate with other occupations (physiotherapists, practitioners of acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage, care workers) with respect to the division of care.

* If the patient visits a specialty outpatient clinic, evaluate the conditions at the time of consultation and exchange and share information with the clinic.

* Combine visits with those of a physiotherapist (hereinafter PT) to create relationships that allow consultations regarding changes in care methods and stockings to be used.

Problems of the home-visit nursing system

* Consider coordination with care other than lymphedema care based on the level of care required, frequency of visits, and visit time.

* Assess the staff’s ability to care for lymphedema.

* Confirm the presence of support from people other than immediate family members (care managers, relatives who live elsewhere, neighbors) and establish a monitoring system for times without a visiting nurse.

* Decide which care should be prioritized and devise methods (Do... while doing...).

* Share information among visiting staff and make the care consistent.

* Delegate care for conditions other than lymphedema to other occupations.

* If it is difficult to finish in time, request a review of the care plan.

* Implement and participate in training for visiting nursing staff to improve individual skills.