Counseling Points Multiple Sclerosis - Spring 2015 - 3

welcome
Dear Colleague,
Discussing safety risks and monitoring patients for potential adverse effects of
treatment are increasingly important parts of management of MS. We want
each patient with MS to receive the most efficacious therapy that is appropriate
for that individual. But we also need to balance the potential for efficacy with
safety, tolerability, and willingness to adhere to therapy.
The growing number of therapeutic options for MS has broadened this decision-making process greatly. In most respects, this is a positive step forward. At
the same time, MS nurses need to apply a more comprehensive approach to
preparing patients for treatment and following patients on treatment. We need
to be aware of how a DMT affects other aspects of a patient's health. We need
to educate and inform our patients about the potential risks involved with some
treatment approaches. And, we need to make sure that patients are evaluated to
determine whether the therapy is achieving its goals for suppression of MS disease activity.
Most MS nurses face the challenges of increased time constraints, paperwork burden, and frustration when a therapeutic plan does not go forward as
intended. Our nurse panelists discuss the challenges they are facing now, and
those anticipated for the future as more new DMT categories are introduced. I
hope you are able to benefit from these insights.

Amy Perrin Ross, APN, MSN, CNRN, MSCN (series editor)
Neuroscience Program Coordinator
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, IL

Spring 2015

Counseling Points Multiple Sclerosis - Spring 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Counseling Points Multiple Sclerosis - Spring 2015