Symptom management
research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs)
using mobile technologies to stay in touch with patients.
Patients receive a
questionnaire by SMS asking them how they are feeling between treatments or
post treatment.
If a patient reports that they are experiencing severe symptoms
an alert is then sent in real time to the care team for follow up.
GICS is planning a 12-mth trial providing
access of a PRO platform to a number of health service entities within the Grampians
region.
This project involves the development of formal processes to
ensure supportive care is planned for rural patients who are completing
radiation therapy treatment at BAROC.
The team at BAROC have joined with rural health services to plan care as
close to home as possible for rural patients.
Clinical depression is highly prevalent in cancer patients
and survivors.Undetected or under treated
depression is associated with reduced quality of life.
Collaborative care models in which hospital-based staff
supervise community-based clinicians can lead to successful outcomes.A successful pilot program investigated the
feasibility of a collaborative care model of caring for cancer patients with
depression. On the basis of this an extension to regional and rural settings is
proposed as is the broadened focus on anxiety, adjustment and disruptive
fears.
It is anticipated the pilot will
incorporate an initial training focus, referral and reporting processes, peer
supervision model and access to liaison consultant psychiatry where indicated.
GICS is the Cancer service improvement network covering the Grampians. It's comprised of a small program office of 6 staff, working together with 23 health services, clinicians and consumers to find new and different ways to deliver services and support change across the cancer care sector.
The Victorian Cancer Plan 2016-2020 provides a framework for our work. Recently, we reported to the DHHS our collective achievements in relation to the four year plan. It's been a very useful and rewarding exercise as you realise the improvements that have been made when you reflect progress over a longer period of time.
Between 2016 and 2020 GICS have:
Attracted $1.3m of service improvement grants to the region to improve the patient's experience of care.
Conducted grants program - resulting in 4 new services being funded on ongoing basis.
Implemented 5 new referral processes streamlining systems to achieve more timely access to care.
Established rapid access lung clinic at BHS and improved timeframes from referral to first treatment in line with the lung cancer OCP (42 days).
Built capacity of the Grampians nursing and allied health workforce to facilitate wellness and exercise programs, resulting in delivery of quarterly programs on ongoing basis
Empowered patients through developing/piloting 11 patient resources using a co-design approach with consumers (Including My Cancer Care Record, 7 podcasts, immunotherapy cards, chemotherapy poster, my cancer survivor guide
Increased number of MDMs conducted by 13%, resulting in 3819 patient discussions.
Established a supportive care MDM for rural patients, resulting in 244 patients being discussed and referral to local allied health services as required.
Facilitated regional clinical representation at Tumour Summits, follow up discussions at the local level, and implementation of 7 local service improvement initiatives.
Raised awareness of optimal care pathways, so that 86% of Grampians Region cancer care professionals have a high level of awareness of OCPs.
Delivered a health literacy program over three phases, involving 1,211 participants. This project resulted in implementation of 7 prevention/early detection programs across 4 small towns involving 600 community members. A toolkit was developed in partnership with local stakeholders and Deakin University to guide this activity.
Enhanced workforce capacity for nurses across the Grampians with 3005 attendances across 341 training events in the Region to ensure quality, safe patient care.
Increased the number of cancer resources nurses (nurse navigators) to 7 across 6 rural health services, and produced a toolkit to aid other health services implement these roles into their model of care.
Sponsored 450 staff attendances at conferences and workshops for skill development and dissemination of research and evaluation activities.
Of course, this has all be done in partnership with our many stakeholders in the Grampians region.
Additionally, we can also celebrate improvements in service access through the opening of the Wimmera Cancer Centre, a new superficial x-ray therapy service in Stawell, new oncology outreach service to Maryborough, establishment of a Symptom Urgent Review Clinic at Ballarat Health Service and expanded use of telehealth across the region.
GICS is supporting the implementation of the MDM Quality Framework.
This involves surveying MDM participants regarding their experiences - and this year include a focus on the experience of MDM in the COVID environment.
The podcasts listed below have interviews with local medical specialists and take you gently through what might be involved in the common treatment paths. We hope the podcasts below will be a helpful addition to the information patients receive from their treatment team.
Our most recent podcasts
Hosted by ABC broadcaster, Penny Johnston, the GICS Consumer Advisory Group have three NEW podcasts to help newly diagnosed patients.
The new podcasts are based on the Ballarat Health Services "Why Wait for Wellness" program which helps cancer patients with diet, exercise and coping before, during and after treatment.
In this new series clinical psychologist Dr Sarah McKinnon, exercise physiologist Tracey Duggan and dietitian Amy Smith provide evidence-based information, tips and break some myths along the way.
The "Why Wait for Wellness" podcasts join the Cancer Survivor Guide series of podcasts where you'll find podcasts on the Cancer Council Information & Support Line, Chemotherapy, Radiation, Surgery and Aboriginal Health.
What are the surgeons looking for when they're operating on your cancer? In this podcast you will meet surgeons Miss Caroline Baker and Mr David Deutscher.
What can you expect when you start chemotherapy? New treatments are more targeted with less side effects. In this podcast you will meet Dr Craig Carden and Oncology Nurses Elizabeth McEncroe and Heather McErvale.
What's involved in this high tech cancer treatment and what can you expect? In this podcast you will meet Dr Simone Reeves and radiation therapists Sharon Gibbs and Chris Hoyne.
Great support services are available for the Indigenous community. In this podcast you will meet Emma Leehane, Aboriginal Support Worker and practice nurses Anthony Harrison and Sandy Anderson.
To visit the Cancer Survivor website please click here