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SURVIVING a cancer diagnosis and treatment is the goal of most Australians faced with this difficult challenge – but how do you manage survival? A new program providing guidance and support to cancer patients with the best kind of outcome has just won a prestigious award.
The Icon Cancer Survivorship Program, from Icon Cancer Centre has won the APHA Award for Excellence in the 'Consumer partnerships and engagement' category.
The pilot program was introduced to standardise survivorship support across Icon's cancer centres and a pilot ran in five sites last year. It aims to assist cancer patients at the end of treatment who are managing often unexpected physical, emotional, practical and social challenges as they move on with their lives.
Developed by a team including a survivorship nurse, cancer care co-ordinator, nurse leaders, business development and planning and site managers, the program is an integrated and co-ordinated service offered to all patients being treated for curable or early-stage disease. It is introduced at the start of treatment at Icon and continues for up to 12 months post active treatment.
Cancer care co-ordinators develop a Wellness Care Plan and provide essential post-treatment resources. All in conjunction with the patients.
The program supports the patient to transition from treatment to recovery and includes the whole health care team, including general practitioners.
The pilot has been welcomed by patients, 70 percent of whom reported feeling better than their last visit and most would refer a friend to the program.
Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) CEO Michael Roff, who presented the award at a gala dinner last night, said the service was another example of private hospitals creating innovative programs for patients.
"The APHA Awards for Excellence aim to use peer examples to inspire the sector and to highlight the wonderful work our hospitals do for patients. Every year we see great programs emerging where hospital staff have identified a particular community need and carefully developed a program to meet it. This is another one.
"This service has not only identified a gap in cancer care and sought to fill it, and it has done so in partnership with patients and the whole health care team. It is a great example for others in cancer care to follow and could be rolled out nationally.
"Another example of the high-quality care Australians have come to recognise as the hallmark of private hospitals." Mr Roff said.
-ENDS-
FINALIST:
- Chris O'Brien Lifehouse: Pharmacy Patient Education and Compliance Committee
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