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Practice for sale formIf you're a GP, the new Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program offers a collaborative approach to support early breast cancer survivors through their recovery. This partnership involves you, the patient, the patient’s oncologist and our dedicated SWSLHD Clinical Nurse Consultant.
How the Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care works
The clinical nurse consultant (CNC) from SWSLHD plays a pivotal role in our Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program, serving as the primary liaison between you, the GP, the oncologist, and early breast cancer survivors eligible for shared care.
Once identifying and gaining consent from suitable patients, the CNC will contact you to establish a shared care arrangement. This shared care arrangement allows the patient to have some their routine follow up cancer recovery appointments take place with you, the GP instead of the oncologist. This collaborative process ensures seamless patient follow-ups, alternating between the hospital and your practice, with the CNC providing ongoing support and serving as an escalation point for any medical complications.
This integration aims to gradually transition the majority of follow-up care to the GP, enhancing continuity of care for survivors with a focus on wellness and life after cancer
How GPs and their patients benefit from the shared care program
- Shared care providers will receive resources and direct clinical support from the CNC related to patient care for breast cancer survivors.
- Increase your knowledge and skills related to best practice management of early breast cancer survivors.
- Patients will be able to access follow up care in a timely manner by having the option to see their GP in place of an oncologist for routine follow up appointments.
- Patients will have access to the CNC who assists patients with care coordination and acts as a conduit between the Oncology outpatient services and their usual GP.
- SWSPHN commissioned an SWSLHD to fund a breast cancer nurse coordinator to implement a shared care model for South Western Sydney.
- If you are a GP based in South Western Sydney who receives a call from a Clinical Nurse Consultant requesting to take part, SWSPHN encourages you to take part in the program.
SWSPHN invites feedback from GPs across our region, especially those who have engaged with this pilot program. Your insights are crucial to evolving it into an ongoing initiative to deliver essential healthcare services, contributing to the improved health and well-being of our community.
enquiries@swsphn.com.au
Discover More: Learn about the foundation of this program and its benefits for breast cancer survivors and GPs on our detailed page, 'Women with breast cancer treated and supported through shared care program.' Click here to read the full announcement.: Women with breast cancer treated and supported through shared care program | South Western Sydney PHN (swsphn.com.au)
Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Program resources
Summary of evidence – Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program
This report highlights key findings from Cancer Australia’s program of work, undertaken between 2009 and 2015, to develop and evaluate a best practice model of shared follow-up care for early breast cancer*.
Roles and responsibilities of the Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program
This resource is for all members of the shared follow-up and survivorship care team. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the specialist, general practitioner (GP), nurses,
and their respective teams, in delivering shared follow-up and survivorship care for patients with early breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Shared Care Follow-up – Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program
Section C. GP Follow-up visit.
Rapid Access Request – Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program
The rapid access request is designed to be used by the general practitioner (GP) and specialist when follow-up raises a clinical issue requiring urgent specialist consultation or advice.
The rapid access request is not to be used as a substitute for existing referral arrangements between GPs and specialists.
Patient factsheet – Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program
Information for women on shared follow-up and survivorship care for early breast cancer.
This information is for women who have been treated for early breast cancer* or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and their carers. It provides information about shared follow-up and survivorship care, including the benefits of shared care and who is involved.
Patient welcome pack – Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program
This patient welcome pack contains practical information for patients undertaking the Follow up Shared Care Program, including what to expect, contact details, business hours, useful websites.