Edition 3 July 2010 - GHA Central

NEWSLETTER
Issue No 3 July 2010
www.gha.net.au/grics
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Haematology MDC
meetings
Multidisciplinary
care
2
2
Supportive care 3
Do you need cancer
data?
What’s new on the
GRICS website
3
4
Contact information 4
Upcoming meetings
and events
Service mapping
project
4
5
Cancer learning 5
GRICS Consumer Forum
Janice Ford
On Friday 16 th July, GRICS in collaboration with the Leukaemia Foundation, will be hosting
our annual Consumer Forum.
The focus of the forum is “Survivorship” with guest speakers Carrie Lethborg and Dr.Kaye
Birks presenting on the day. The Forum is a free event for Gippsland cancer patients, their
families and carers and will be held at Century Inn Traralgon
from 10:30am- 2:30pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided
on the day and “goodie bags” available for all attendees.
Last year there were 90 consumers attend and this year we are
hoping to attract similar numbers. Whilst providing valuable
information, the forum also provides an avenue through which
consumers are able to raise issues with cancer service provision
in the Gippsland region. Identifying service “gaps” facilitates opportunity for service
improvement to the benefit of patients and health professionals alike.
Advertising will be through local newspapers, radio, community groups and we are also
hoping to use the forum as a springboard for our Consumer Advocacy Training Workshop
(see below). To register please contact Janice Ford 035128 0140, Erme Maxwell 035173 8859
or Judy Woods 035173 6804
Consumer Advocacy Training
Workshop
Cancer Treatment Information for
Health Professionals
Managers report 6
Gippsland
chemotherapy nurse
preceptorship
project
GRICS
Postal Address:
PO Box 424
Traralgon Vic 3844
Website:
www.gha.net.au/grics
Phone Number:
5128 0138
Fax Number:
5128 0198
6
From interest generated through the
Consumer Forum and previous
expressions of interest from Gippsland
cancer patients, GRICS are conducting a
Consumer Advocacy Training Workshop
on the weekend of the 14 & 15 August at
Century Inn Traralgon. The workshop is
being facilitated by the Health Issues
Centre with both local and metropolitan
speakers presenting over the two days.
The aim of this workshop is to provide a
basis on which Gippsland cancer patients
can build on to form a Consumer
Reference Group representing cancer
patients across the region. The workshop
is limited to a maximum of 20 consumers
(a minimum of two years post initial
diagnosis). Further information can be
obtained by contacting Janice Ford
035128 0140 or jford@lrh.com.au
EviQ is a cancer treatment information website
that is used extensively in the hospital setting in
NSW and other areas of Australia. The primary
care content area was able to be provided due
to funding from Cancer Australia.
This is particularly useful for the rural or remote
GPs who don't have the close proximity
support of their patient's specialist.
Information on the site undergoes a rigorous
governance process before it is uploaded and
clinicians involved in developing the
information are unbiased and currently working
in the relevant setting; protocols are evidence
based and consensus driven. There are
dedicated areas for medical oncology, radiation
oncology, nursing, primary care, haematology,
HPCT and Cancer Genetics (in development).
Formally known as CI-SCaT, eviQ is available
online free (registration is required) at
http://www.eviQ.org.au
"The Integrated Cancer Services are
funded by the Victorian Government
as part of Victoria's cancer reforms"

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Issue No 3 July 2010
www.gha.net.au/grics
Haematology MDC meetings
Janice Ford
GRICS first Haematology MDC team
meeting was held on the 3 rd June.
These meetings were established as a
means by which newly diagnosed
patients and complex patients with
blood malignancies living in the
Gippsland region can have their case
discussed within a multidisciplinary environment.
The meeting proved to be invaluable with treatments and clinical
trials being discussed which may not have been readily available /
accessible for Gippsland patients in the past. It is also a wonderful
learning opportunity for health professionals.
Dr. John Scarlett chairs these meetings with specialist
haematology support being provided by Professor John Seymour.
The meeting was also attended by Judy Woods from the
Leukaemia Foundation and nursing staff from the LRH
Chemotherapy Unit. Dr. Rob Ziffer from CGHS is planning on
attending future meetings. These meetings are being held every
four weeks. Haematology patients from any of the Gippsland
Health Services may be referred through to this meeting using
the regular GRICS referral process. Attendance from referring
Physicians and specialist nursing staff from Gippsland is
welcomed and encouraged. Videoconferencing facilities are
available at the five major Gippsland health services and can be
arranged through GRICS if staff wish to use this medium to attend
the meeting. Further information can be obtained by contacting
Janice Ford 035128 0140 or jford@lrh.com.au
Multidisciplinary Care
Putting the pieces together
Janice Ford
The GRICS Multi disciplinary care team meetings
are continuing to strengthen. The surgical meeting
based at LRH every Friday morning, has now
expanded and covers patients diagnosed with
breast, upper GI, colorectal and skin malignancies.
These meetings are held every Friday from 0800-
0845 with an average of six patients discussed
each week who have treatment plans developed
as a result. The meetings are attended by
Surgeons, Medical Oncologist, Radiation
Oncologist, Pathologist,
Radiologist, specialist
nursing staff, allied
health staff and
numerous other health
professionals.
Patient referrals to this
meeting from across the
region are encouraged as
a way of supporting best
practice standards throughout the Gippsland
region .
Referral forms can be obtained from the GRICS
website.
Further information can be obtained by contacting
Janice Ford 035128 0140 or jford@lrh.com.au
GRICS would like to welcome the following staff to the MDC Team
Mr Clem Smith
Surgeon BRHS
Mr Steuart Rorke
Pathologist
Gippsland Pathology
Assoc. Professor
John Seymour
Director Haematology
Peter MacCallum
Mr Cyril Tsan
Surgeon WGHG
Dr Ben Hindson
Radiation Oncologist
William Buckland
Radiotherapy
Gippsland
"The Integrated Cancer Services are
funded by the Victorian Government
as part of Victoria's cancer reforms"

Page 3
Issue No 3 July 2010
www.gha.net.au/grics
Supportive Care
Michelle McKimmie
The focus within Supportive Care this quarter has been the development of the Supportive Care Strategic Plan 2010 –
2013 and an accompanying Operational Plan which will provide the direction forward for supportive care across the
region for the coming twelve months. An Organisational Checklist has also been completed as part of the strategic
process to inform future planning.
GRICS has supported three free education sessions of the evidence-based Victorian Cancer Clinician’s Communication
Program titled “Eliciting & Responding to Emotional Cues”. Sessions were held at West Gippsland Healthcare Group,
Central Gippsland Health Service and Bairnsdale Regional Health Service with cancer clinicians being skilled
in addressing complex communication issues. Further education opportunities will be offered to other Gippsland
Health Services, in conjunction with the Cancer Council Victoria in the coming months.
The Supportive Care website has also undergone a “make-over” with access to a suite of resources for both health
professionals and consumers, including podcasts and educational opportunities. It is a work in progress with the aim
to continually add to the site so that GRICS can offer a comprehensive and current reserve of cancer information for
the region. Please check it out and why not put the GRICS website shortcut on your desktop for easy access.
Further information can be obtained by contacting Michelle McKimmie on 035128 0059 or mmckimmie@lrh.com.au
Do you need cancer data?
Maria Garrett
Are you trying to find data about cancer activity at your health service?
Do you need to know how many people are diagnosed with prostate cancer in East Gippsland per year?
GRICS may be able to help you answer some of these kinds of questions. We have available to us some resources not
readily available:
• An extract of the VAED (Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset) which includes all admissions at Gippsland health
services including a neoplasm diagnosis. This data is de-identified. It can be used to see;
• How many admissions at a health service involve patients with a colorectal cancer diagnosis
• If there has been an increase in the number of admissions involving breast cancer patients over the past
four years
• What proportion of admissions for cancer patients involve surgery
• What proportion of admissions for cancer patients involve chemotherapy
• The number of admissions involving patients from outside the local area
• Cancer incidence data from the Victorian Cancer Registry. Number of diagnosed cancers by tumour stream in
Gippsland and for local government areas is available for specific purposes. Trends for the past 12 years are also
available.
• Chemotherapy unit activity. Information is provided to GRICS by health services with a chemotherapy unit.
Regional meetings with health service representatives are held with the purpose of benchmarking activity and
sharing ideas across the region.
We are able to provide summary data for Gippsland as well as more detailed information for your own health service.
Please contact Maria Garrett, Cancer Data & Information Analyst, on 5128 0139 or mgarrett@lrh.com.au. I am happy
to discuss what information we might have that meets your needs.
"The Integrated Cancer Services are
funded by the Victorian Government
as part of Victoria's cancer reforms"

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Issue No 3 July 2010
www.gha.net.au/grics
What’s new on the GRICS website
Look online at www.gha.net.au/grics
• Resource lists for consumers specific to
cancer groups
• Supportive Care directories for regions
within Gippsland
• Training and education information for
health professionals and consumers
including videos and podcasts
• A list of Cancer Support Groups
registered with GRICS throughout the
Gippsland region
• Links to other useful sites
Log on and have a look at our website, it is
continually being updated with new and
useful information.
Contact Information
Co Managers
Kylie Halsall 5128 0075
khalsall@lrh.com.au
Louise Cristofaro 5128 0142
lcristofaro@lrh.com.au
Administrative Officer
Enza Wright 5128 0138
ewright@lrh.com.au
Cancer Data and Information Analyst
Maria Garrett 5128 0139
mgarrett@lrh.com.au
Cancer Service Improvement Coordinator
Janice Ford 5128 0140
jford@lrh.com.au
Project Officer
Peter Kevekordes 5128 0137
pkevekordes@lrh.com.au
Supportive Care Cancer Project Officer
Michelle McKimmie 5128 0059
mmckimmie@lrh.com.au
Upcoming Meetings and Events
July 2010
• Every Friday 8.00am—8.40 GRICS MDT meeting William Buckland
Radiotherapy Conference Room—video conference available
• Thursday 15th July GCNIG Education Seminar Supportive Care
Needs—using what you have! LaTrobe Convention Centre Traralgon
Contact Monika Whitehead 035173 8846 mwhitehead@lrh.com.au
• Friday 16th July Consumer Forum Century Inn Traralgon Contact
Janice Ford 035128 0140, Erme Maxwell 035173 8859 or
Judy Woods 035173 6804
• Monday 19th July GRICS Business Group meeting
• Thursday 29th July 5.30pm—6.15pm GRICS Haematology MDT
meeting William Buckland Radiotherapy Conference Room—video
conference available
• Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st July Cancer Nurses Society of
Australia 13th Winter Congress Perth WA http://www.cnsa2010.com/
.
August 2010
• Every Friday 8.00am—8.40 GRICS MDT meeting William Buckland
Radiotherapy Conference Room—video conference available
• Friday 6th to Sunday 8th August Prostate Cancer Foundation of
Australia Advancing Quality of Life conference Gold Coast
Queensland http://www.prostate.org.au
• Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th August GRICS Consumer Advocacy
Training Workshop Century Inn Traralgon
Contact Janice Ford 0351 280140 or jford@lrh.com.au
• Thursday 19th and Friday 20th August 6th Annual National Disease
Management Conference Melbourne http://www.adma.org.au
• Thursday 26th August 5.30pm—6.15pm GRICS Haematology MDT
meeting William Buckland Radiotherapy Conference Room—video
conference available
• Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August Clinical Skills for Cancer
Pharmacy Practitioners Brisbane Queensland
http://cpg.iamevents.com.au/index.php
September 2010
• Every Friday 8.00am—8.40 GRICS MDT meeting William Buckland
Radiotherapy Conference Room—video conference available
• Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd September
Living with cancer education program Carlton Victoria
Phone: 03 9635 5312 or 13 11 20
• Monday 6th September GRICS Business Group meeting
• 12-18th September Australia & Asia Pacific Oncology Research
Development workshop 2010 Sunshine Coast Queensland
http://www.acordworkshop.org.au/
• Thursday 23rd September 5.30pm—6.15pm GRICS Haematology
MDT meeting William Buckland Radiotherapy Conference Room—
video conference available
"The Integrated Cancer Services are
funded by the Victorian Government
as part of Victoria's cancer reforms"

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Issue No 3 July 2010
www.gha.net.au/grics
Service Mapping Project
Peter Kevekordes
Project Plan
The following Project Plan was prepared for the GRICS Service Mapping Report (SMR):
• Provide qualitative and quantitative data on cancer services provided across the Gippsland region;
• Provide baseline data for use by GRICS and health services to evaluate cancer service improvement activities as
well as measure targets listed in the Victorian Cancer Action Plan 2008 – 2011 (VCAP); and
• Identify regional service gaps across each of the fourteen tumour pathways as well as opportunities to improve
cancer service coordination.
Project Outcomes
To date, the following outcomes for the SMR have been achieved:
• All GRICS member agencies have submitted SMR responses detailing the expected treatment journey for cancer
patients across the fourteen tumour streams defined by the Patient Management Frameworks (PMF);
(http://www.health.vic.gov.au/cancer/framework/pmfsnew.htm)
• Regional report of VAED data titled ‘Hospital Separations in Gippsland involving Neoplasm Diagnosis: 2005/06 to
2008/09’ (report prepared by Maria Garrett); and
• Decision-making flow chart representing services provided by agencies against the optimal treatment pathway
outlined in the PMF documents for each tumour stream.
Project Follow-up
Before proceeding with the SMR gap analysis, GRICS proposes to visit all member agencies to discuss the following:
• Report on SMR outcomes recorded to-date based on the submitted work of each agency;
• Verify information submitted by agencies in the SMR report;
• Invite agency feedback on where they see the work of the SMR progressing; and
• Invite agency feedback on the SMR process by completing an Evaluation Report.
Where To From Here
Whilst the SMR provides a useful snapshot of the range of
services a cancer patient can access according to their tumour
type and location, the report provides no evidence on how
these services actually perform against recommended PMF
benchmarks (ie timelines for testing following initial GP
referral).
Further work may involve benchmarking service outcomes
against PMF service delivery recommendations.
Benchmarking in this instance would be used to advance work
on quality improvement and service sustainability in the
following GRICS priority areas:
• Reducing Unwanted Variation in Practice; and
• Care Coordination.
The focus of any future work on the SMR will be informed by
forthcoming changes to the Multi disciplinary Care Team
meeting format (the tumour streams of haematology, skin and
gastro-intestinal will be added to the current focus on breast
and colorectal cancers).
Cancer Learning
Cancer Learning: a key online resource for
professionals, staff, trainees and students with an
interest in cancer care
Cancer Learning is an online professional
development website designed specifically for
health care professionals, staff, trainees and
students currently working in or studying to enter a
career in cancer care, developed by Cancer
Australia in association with leading Australian
professional bodies and cancer organisations.
We would like to make you, your academic staff
and students aware of the broad range of
evidence-based information and learning
opportunities available to them on this free, easily
accessible, comprehensive website.
http://www.cancerlearning.gov.au/
"The Integrated Cancer Services are
funded by the Victorian Government
as part of Victoria's cancer reforms"

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Issue No 3 July 2010
www.gha.net.au/grics
Manager’s Report
Louise Cristofaro and Kylie Halsall
Since the release of Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan (VCAP) 2008-2011,
GRICS has been working towards increasing the number of specialist
oncology trained staff in the Gippsland region, using a variety of
education programs, including;
• Cancer education training workshops in supportive care
screening;
• Victorian Cancer Clinician’s Communication Program supported by
Cancer Council Victoria;
• Gippsland Chemotherapy Cancer Centre Preceptor Program at
Latrobe Regional Hospital; and
• Gippsland-wide Education workshops on Central Venous Access
Devices, facilitated by Bard Australia.
All of these programs aim to improve cancer care in Gippsland
through the continual improvement in the quality of evidence-based
care and strengthening the engagement of all stakeholders in cancer
care initiatives.
In March 2010 GRICS developed a Scholarship Program which
provided the opportunity for all medical, nursing and allied health
staff from the Gippsland region, who are currently working with
patients diagnosed with cancer to apply for scholarship funding from
GRICS, to;
• Attend a cancer related conference;
• Undertake cancer related study 2010;
• Undertake a mentoring placement at either a metropolitan
hospital or regional specialist centre (eg., Latrobe Regional
Hospital);
• Conduct cancer specific action research within their health
service.
Gippsland Chemotherapy Nurse
Preceptorship Project
Due to the overwhelming success and positive
feedback from previous programs, GRICS have
decided to once again conduct the GCNPP
throughout the last six months of this year.
Five one day programs (maximum of two staff
each day), and two five day programs
(maximum of two
participants) will be
offered for nurses
providing services to
cancer patients within the
Gippsland Region. The
one day workshops focus
on PICCS and Ports and
offer staff the opportunity
to work with a preceptor
within the Chemotherapy
Unit at LRH.
The five day programs are more intensive,
providing greater exposure to Chemotherapy
practices whilst remaining fully supported by a
preceptor. Due to a large demand on the
program in previous rotations, applications
from interested staff must be received as soon
as possible in order to be considered for
participation.
Please direct all enquiries to Janice Ford
035128 0140 or jford@lrh.com.au
GRICS is pleased to announce that to date they have supported 27 staff to participate in the GRICS Scholarship
Program with staff applying for a range of professional Development opportunities including undertaking;
• Chemotherapy Module 2 at Peter Mac
• Module for Post Graduate Diploma in Cancer at Palliative Care (Melbourne University)
• Psychotherapies for cancer patients and their families (University of Melbourne); and attending
• Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting 2010 (Melbourne)
• Australian Lung Cancer Conference (Melbourne)
• Cancer Nurses Society of Australia 13 th Winter Congress (Perth)
• 11 th National Prostate Cancer Symposium (Melbourne)
• Australia and New Zealand Head and Neck Cancer Society Annual Scientific Meeting (Sydney); and finally
• Undertaking mentoring with an experienced oncology dietician at Monash Medical Centre.
As a direct result of the success of the GRICS Scholarship Program 2010 and discussions between members of the
GRICS team, and Gippsland stakeholders, the GRICS Governance Group has supported the continuation of the GRICS
Scholarship Program 2010/ 2011 (1 st July 2010 – June 30 th 2011)
For further details please go to the GRICS website or contact Enza Wright on 035128 0138 or ewright@lrh.com.au
"The Integrated Cancer Services are
funded by the Victorian Government
as part of Victoria's cancer reforms"