Download Supportive Care Strategy: A clear united message

Supportive Care Strategy:
A clear united message
Authors – Nyree Clark, Project Officer; Jenny Byrne, Manager; Karen Olver, former Project Officer
Western Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service, Level 7 , 372 Albert St, East Melbourne. Vic Australia. 3001
Background
The Department of Human Services Cancer Services
Framework Report (2003) reported that the
supportive care needs of people with cancer in
Victoria were often not well identified or managed.
Supportive care is an ‘umbrella’ term for a range of
generalist and specialist services required to support
people with cancer and their families. Supportive care
incorporates five domains; physical, information,
social, psychological, and spiritual. (NICE, 2004)
The Fitch (2004) supportive care model has been
adopted as the model of choice by the Cancer and
Palliative Care Unit, Department of Human Services
and underpins the work of the WCMICS.
The model indicates the level of intervention required
at each phase of the patient journey. It recognizes
that all patients require a certain level of supportive
care and only a few patients will require specialized
services and programs.
Strategy Development
Methodology
The method used to progress the supportive care
agenda within the WCMICS was undertaken in the
following stages:
1. Preliminary scoping of the issues
2. A supportive care workshop of stakeholders
and experts from WCMICS
3. The development of key recommendations
outlined in the Supportive Care Strategy.
4. The development of a matrix of implementation
5. The formation of a Supportive Care Advisory
Group
6. Development of work-streams
7. Implementation of work-streams
Work-stream Development
The workshop supported the formation of a
Supportive Care Advisory Group to provide support,
advice and guidance to the WCMICS regarding the
activities and projects recommended in the
Supportive Care Strategy .
The group was formed in December 2007 and
consists of professional representatives from the 6
constituent hospitals, the Palliative Care Consortia,
Consumers and the WCMICS directorate.
The advisory group meet quarterly, however they are
used ‘virtually’ as a constant resource for WCMICS to
consult with and their advice is imperative to the
progression of the Supportive Care Strategy’s work
stream activities.
Due to the complexity of Supportive Care service
delivery and the barriers which can interfere with
optimal delivery, it was important to analysis and
priorities the recommendations from the strategy.
Therefore similar activities were gathered in clusters
for ease of delivery. The work-streams include:
• Service mapping of Supportive Care across the
region
• Strengthening multidisciplinary teams &
referral processes
• Improving information technology to support
the sharing of best practice supportive care
• The development of clinical champions within
organisations.
• Improving professional education generic to all
cancer health professionals.
• The development of a communication strategy
for Supportive Care
People with cancer suffer considerable “emotional
morbidity”. Research indicates that 66% of people
diagnosed with cancer report psychological distress
and evidence suggests 30% will experience clinically
significant anxiety. Clinical depression has been
reported in up to 35% of patients. These disorders
have a significant negative effect on the person’s
ability to function in their normal day to day lives.
Left unmanaged, it can also reduce their ability to
cope with the disease and affect compliance with
recommended treatment (NBCC and NCCI, 2003)
The Western and Central Melbourne Integrated
Cancer Service (WCMICS) developed a Supportive
Care Strategy to provide recommendations and a
strategic approach towards strengthening supportive
care within the various services throughout the
region.
Supportive Care Advisory
Group
Members of the Supportive Care Advisory Group
Implementation in Progress
Work is currently in progress to:
• Audit services on supportive care service delivery
• Fund specific Supportive Care Projects
throughout the region
• Hold an Inaugural Supportive Care Conference
• Scope generic Supportive Care Professional
Education throughout the WCMICS
For more information about the WCMICS Supportive
Care Strategy please contact:
Nyree Clark 03 9656 2788 or www.wcmics.org
References
Fitch, M (2000). Supportive Care for Cancer Patients. Hospital Quarterly, Volume 3, no. 4
pp. 39-46.
National Breast Cancer Centre and the National Cancer Control Initiative (2003). Clinical
Practice Guidelines for the Psychosocial Care of Adults with Cancer. NSW, National Cancer
Control Initiative.
Western & Central Melbourne ICS Geographic region
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2004). Improving Supportive and Palliative Care
for Adults with Cancer. London, National Institute of Clinical Excellence.