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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.