Brain cancer optimal care pathway project
SMICS and GRICS supported local initiatives to reduce variations in care as identified from the Brain Cancer Victorian Tumour Summit (VTS) held October 2020.
Local clinicians were engaged to:
- Increase the Monash Health Neurosurgery multidisciplinary meeting (MDM) to progress from monthly to fortnightly MDMs for glioma patients. Auditing confirmed, that since moving to fortnightly MDMs in 2022, 82% of brain tumour patients are discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting within two weeks of diagnosis (compared to 54% in 2021).
- Develop formalised pathways/procedures for Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) clinicians to attend the Monash Health Neurosurgery MDM in partnership with Gippsland Regional Integrated Cancer Service (GRICS). Regional referrers participation in MDM discussions of their patients, particularly in the context of repatriated regional consumers for post-surgery treatment and care, was a recommendation from the VTS to improve coordination of care.
- Investigate adapting the Monash Health Oncology Supportive Care Screening Tool, to better address the specific needs and concerns of brain cancer patients.
For more information, email: smics@monashhealth.org