Grampians Integrated Cancer Services Newsletter
This Edition
"Focus on the Wimmera"
(Volume 1, Issue 3, September 2008)
Introducing the Wimmera Cancer Transport Pilot Project - A Transport Assistance Program
In response to the concerns regarding travel costs incurred by persons travelling to attend their medical oncology appointments and chemotherapy related treatment based at Wimmera Health Care Group, the Grampians Integrated Cancer Service, and Wimmera Volunteers have combined resources to pilot a travel reimbursement project.
The Wimmera Cancer Transport Pilot Project will assist in partially meeting costs incurred by persons not eligible for other travel reimbursement programs. It will provide financial reimbursement for travel that is over 20 kilometres, but less than 100 kilometres (one way), to medical oncology appointments or chemotherapy treatment based at the Wimmera Health Care Group.
The project will also assist in documenting the gaps in travel assistance programs currently in place.
If you, or someone you know is accessing oncology appointments at Wimmera Health Care Group, and could assist with this pilot, more information is available from your Medical Oncologist, or call Kylie Dare at Wimmera Volunteers on 53 82 5607.
Official launch of the Wimmera Cancer Transport Pilot Project at the Horsham and District Cancer Friendship Group.
Petrol vouchers available for Wimmera carers
Shirley Glover: Senior Social Worker Social Department Wimmera Health Care Group
Petrol vouchers are now available for carers assisting in the transport of family members for medical and health related care.
The petrol vouchers are courtesy of the Carer Respite Centre Wimmera Region.
Anyone requiring assistance can contact the Social Work Department on 5481 9242 or 5381 9385 Monday to Friday during business hours.
Additionally, Wimmera Uniting Care is providing a hospital based financial counselling program. This program can be accessed via the Social Work Department on the above numbers.
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Supportive Care Conference
The Grampians Integrated Cancer Service will be holding a “Supportive Care Conference”
Both conference days will showcase supportive care within the Grampians region. It will be open to all health care professionals who are involved or have an interest in providing supportive care to cancer patients.
The days will consist of plenary and concurrent sessions.
Some of the keynote speakers will include:
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Jane Jones, DHS Cancer and Palliative Care Unit
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Doreen Akkerman, Cancer Council Victoria
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Professor Love, University of Ballarat
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Dr Greg Mewett, Palliative Care Physician
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Sheila Hirst, Sheila Hirst Consulting
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And many more
The concurrent sessions will highlight supportive care services within the Grampians region.
Trade displays will be present at both conference days to inform delegates of the many supportive care services available.
The day will be free to delegates, but registration is required for catering purposes.
For registrations or more information please refer to the gics website: www.gics.com.au
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FREE Exercise Program
East Grampians Health Service is offering this free program for cancer clients, their carers and/or family members.
Evening sessions in Stawell and Ararat and day sessions in Ararat and Willaura will be commencing in September.
Qigong exercises are slow and gentle. Qigong is an ancient Chinese health exercise which is today widely practiced throughout the world. It is similar to Tai Chi but is easier to learn. It is a form of self healing exercise and meditation that improves social connectedness, improves general physical and mental well-being, potentially improves the physical symptoms of disease and/or treatment and promotes better health.
Enquiries: Anne Francis 5352 9327 Thursday and Friday.
Wimmera Multidisciplinary Meetings
Monthly Multidisciplinary meetings have been facilitated at Wimmera Health Care Group since March of 2008.
With the five meetings held so far, twenty eight cases have been presented for treatment care planning.
Multidisciplinary Supportive Care Meetings Commence in Ararat
Multidisciplinary Supportive Care Meetings commenced in the Ararat Day Oncology Unit at East Grampians Health Service on the 13th August 2008. Meetings will coincide with the Medical Oncologists visit to the Unit.
The objectives of the meetings are to:
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Discuss patient referral to supportive care services
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Discuss patient treatment plans
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Provide education to health care providers
The meetings have been well received by participants so far, and it is anticipated that a similar meeting will commence at the Day Oncology Unit at Stawell Regional Health. The first meeting is scheduled for the 24th of September 2008.
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GICS attendance at The Home and Community Care (HACC) Expo Held in Ararat on 17th July 2008
The Grampians Integrated Cancer Service (GICS) was invited to participate in the Home and Community Care (HACC) Health and Well-being Expo which was held at the Ararat Performing Arts Centre Town Hall on Thursday 17 July 2008. GICS staff Maree White, Cancer Service Improvement Coordinator and Sharon Daly, Quality Coordinator manned the GICS stand.
The aims of attendance were three fold:
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to educate cancer service providers about the role of GICS
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to elicit information in the form of responses to a survey about cancer service improvement ideas from the general public
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to raise overall awareness about the Grampians Integrated Cancer Service
In order to achieve this, GICS information packs were handed out to the service providers who were present on the day with the intent that they be forwarded on to the relevant personnel within the health service. Additionally, email addresses were exchanged so that a service barrier survey can be sent to service providers to get feedback about difficulties that they have with delivery of their service to cancer patients in particular. A consumer survey was conducted on the day, asking generally for ideas about how to improve cancer services from the patient’s perspective.
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Wimmera Health Care Group - Look Good Feel Better Program Workshops to continue
In February 2007, GICS funded a 12 month project to develop a Look Good Feel Better Program with the Look Good Feel Better Coordinators, nursing staff at Wimmera Health Care Group and Volunteers from the Business sector in Horsham.
The program was successfully completed with a lot of positive feedback from those who participated in the three workshops conducted throughout that year.
Ongoing sustainability of the program has been successfully maintained through the Community Health Service, coordinated by Natalie Smith, Manager of Community Health Wimmera Health Care Group.
The Ararat Breast Cancer Support Group have generously donated $1,000 so the program can continue for the next twelve months.
The announcement was made by President Bev Walker at a recent Feel Good Luncheon held to acknowledge all the participants in the previous three workshops together with the volunteers from Kay Poyner Beauty Therapy, Amcal Pharmacy, Healthwise Pharmacy, Blue Cameo Hairdressing, the Oncology Nurses, Community Health Nurses and importantly the Grampians Integrated Cancer Service who funded getting the program up and running and the successful workshops conducted so far.
Hosted by East Grampians Health Service and held in Pyrenees House the workshops so far have been most positive and beneficial to the women who have participated and all present at the luncheon felt the offer by the Ararat Breast Cancer Support Group is an outstanding gesture from a group that are all cancer survivors themselves.
In congratulating Ararat on the continuing of the program Victoria/Tasmania State Program Manager for the the ‘Look Good…Feel Better’ Program Sue Kefelja said: “Everyone involved has done such a wonderful job of setting up the ‘Look Good...Feel Better’ program in Ararat. So often many of the workshop centres take ages to get off the ground but you have all taken to it with ease and it has been such a success. To receive this contribution from the Ararat Breast Cancer Support Group must make things a lot easier and you know you can go ahead without the financial worry.”
If you know of a family member, friend or someone in the community who would benefit from being involved in the forthcoming workshop please extend an invitation and encourage them to contact Unit Nurse Manager, Lorine Paterson at East Grampians Health Service: Tel: 5352 9434, Email: lpaterson@eghs.net.au or Natalie Smith on (03) 5362 1241.
L/R - Robyn McIntyre GICS, Debbie Turner Amcal Pharmacy Volunteer, Jenny Pitman Participant, Lorine Paterson Inpatient Unit / Oncology Department Manager and Eleanor Whitehead GICS Manager at the Look Good... Feel Better luncheon at East Grampians Health Service Ararat.
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Improving Patient Care Coordination in the Stawell Day Oncology Unit
Stawell Regional Health Grampians Integrated Cancer Service Project
Project Officer: Jan Sherwell Clinical Nurse Consultant- Oncology
The project was initiated out of an identified need to improve patient care following treatment at the Stawell Day Oncology Unit.
A phone call is made to patients at home following treatment to:
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assess their physical condition
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offer education and advise on specific measures to treat symptoms resulting from treatment
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assess patients supportive care needs and refer patients to the appropriate services required.
Results so far:
49 calls have been made to 15 clients over a six month period. Calls were made to new clients and those who had recently commenced treatment. Longer term clients were contacted if their condition was deemed no longer stable.
Some of the information we have been able to collect include the following.
Assessment outcomes:
Advice was given to 44% of clients during the phone call, while 24% requested written information that was given to them on their next treatment day. 32% required a referral.
The project is due for completion in October 2008 and a final report will be issued at this time.
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Request for Consumers for the GICS Executive
Expressions of interest for Consumer Representation on the GICS Executive.
Invitation to eligible consumers to participate in GICS Executive meetings.
For further information please contact Eleanor Whitehead on (03) 5320 4782.
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