CN83 - Transforming cancer care - The impact of Cancer@Home initiatives: Phase I

Background

Alfred Health is a Monash University-affiliated academic health centre in South of Melbourne, Australia, with an immediate catchment area of 800,00 and as a tertiary referral centre, 60% of the workload is from referrals outside of the catchment area. The Alfred Cancer Program offers a comprehensive cancer service and has experiences 6% annual increase in patients for access to complex treatments and innovative trials with a rising need for inpatient admissions. This necessitated a proactive approach to address key performance indicators (KPIs) such as bed occupancy rates, emergency department waiting times, and inpatient lengths of stay. Exploring alternative care models comprising a more effective home/out patient-based proactive approach would transform the delivery of care and improve hospital KPI’s and patient experience.

Methods

The project utilized a lean-thinking framework and an established change management methodology, with the Cancer@Home philosophy guiding the design of new care models. Cancer@Home model of care was developed which had three planned phases, ensuring a systematic approach to care transformation.

Results

The transition of cancer care to the home has resulted in: Improved quality of service and patient experience. Improved timely quality care to treatment- No wait times for patients to receive treatment through day chemotherapy; rapid access to tumour stream coordinators, reduction in presentation to emergency department, supporting communities with palliative care services, prompt allied health interventions. Financial revenue–National Weighted Activity Units generated (Public funding stream for Victoria Australia).

Conclusions

This was a succesfull phase 1 of our Cancer@home program of work where treatment and follow up care is delivered outside the walls of the hospital setting. As we look to launch Phase 2 of Cancer@Home (supportive care treatments), this will involve an additional 2,003 episodes of care in the home across FY 23/24. We will continue to recruit into new tumor stream cancer nurse coordinator and nurse practitioner roles as well as expanding existing services (SURC, PATS) and advocating for additional Allied Health services for both Alfred Cancer inpatients & outpatients.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Cancer@home Project Team Alfred Health Executives Alfred Cancer Eecutives.

Legal entity responsible for the study

The author.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

The author has declared no conflicts of interest.