Poster Presentation Victorian Integrated Cancer Service Conference 2015

The Evaluation of Cancer Outcomes Barwon South Western Registry- from concept to creation (#94)

Violet R Mukaro 1 2 3 , Leigh Matheson 1 , Margaret Henry 1 3 , Brooke Garrard 1 , Graham Pitson 1 2 , David Ashley 1 2 3
  1. Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  2. Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  3. School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia

Background
The Evaluation of Cancer Outcomes (ECO) pilot was a collaboration between the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR), BSWRICS and the Department of Health (Victoria). The aim was to develop a standardised method of collecting tumour stage at diagnosis, prognostic indicators, treatment and subsequent outcomes for newly diagnosed cancer patients. The Evaluation of Cancer Outcomes Barwon South Western Registry (ECOBSW) built on the pilot to establish a clinical quality registry (CQR) to monitor processes and outcomes and ultimately improve patient care.

Methods
The project is coordinated by the BSWRICS with Barwon Health appointed as the data custodian and includes all public and private hospitals within the Barwon South Western region. A data management policy framework and governance structure was formulated and peer review assessment performed. A database known as the Regional Aggregated Cancer E-Repository (RACER) was developed within the secure environment of the South West Alliance of Rural Health (SWARH) network which allows for semi-automated data extraction from clinical information systems. A literature review was performed to identify performance indicators of relevance. A feasibility analysis for identified performance indicators is currently underway with preliminary indicators including the removal and examination of 12 or more lymph nodes in colon resections and radiotherapy following breast conserving surgery using benchmarks from the UK.

Results
Ethics approval was obtained across the 8 health services. A literature review was performed to identify performance indicators for cancer care. Data will be presented on the preliminary indicators.

Conclusion
BSRWICS has facilitated a broad-based cooperation and collaboration of health services across the region in order to establish a unique population based CQR which is able to capture all cancer treatments and diagnosis in the BSW region. This achievement can serve as a model for a state based cancer CQR allowing for valuable insights into patterns of care.