Improving the capture and reporting of patient country of birth, preferred language and cancer stage in the NEMICS region

Improving the capture and reporting of patient country of birth, preferred language and cancer stage in the NEMICS region

Accurate country of birth, preferred language and cancer stage data are essential for monitoring cancer outcomes and addressing inequities for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Despite these fields being mandatory under Victorian legislation, recent audits have identified persistent gaps in their completeness and accuracy, limiting the ability of health services and the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) to understand and respond to disparities in cancer care.

This NEMICS project is working in partnership with Mercy Hospital for Women and Northern Health to strengthen local Health Information Management (HIM) workflows for capturing and reporting this data to the VCR. Through current state mapping, diagnostic audits, and co-design with HIM staff, the project will identify barriers and enablers to accurate reporting and develop practical, sustainable solutions to improve data quality. Findings and recommendations will also be shared with relevant governance committees to support broader system improvements beyond the project’s scope.