COSA Brightways Abstract (Service provision)

Introduction
Cabrini is the largest private health provider, for the provision of cancer services in Victoria. Cancer care across the whole continuum requires a coordinated approach, particularly in private healthcare, where patients are being referred for treatment through varying entry points. A service known as Brightways has been established to deliver multidisciplinary, comprehensive and coordinated care for patients with breast cancer.

Aims
This new service model aims to ensure patients are cared for, through a truly multidisciplinary and coordinated supportive care approach, placing the patient at the very centre of that care.

Method
The service model developed aligns to the Victorian Department of Health’s recommendations on cancer reform, Cancer Action plan, and the Victorian Cancer Councils, best practice patient management framework. A multidisciplinary team, work together to deliver care through newly developed initiatives. These include surgical preadmission clinics, pre chemotherapy education clinics, standing referral pathways, and supportive care allied health weekly meetings followed by a multidisciplinary meeting supported by SMICS (Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service) our Victorian Integrated Cancer Service partner.

Results
The multidisciplinary and supportive care approach ensures collaboration and review, by all stakeholders, consumer participation, aligns to the national standards and has reduced variation in practice throughout all stages of the disease trajectory. Role clarity has been provided for Brightways team members and touch points for key areas of support have been identified. These touch points have been mapped as a patient journey pathway. An evaluation strategy is embedded within each touch point on the pathway to ensure outcomes can be measured against best practice models.

Conclusion
Brightways has been established to deliver multidisciplinary, comprehensive and coordinated care for patients with breast cancer. It aligns with key policy frameworks and is underpinned by the principles of patient centred care. An evaluation strategy has been embedded within patient touch points to measure outcomes against best practice.