I-PACED : Implementing Pathways for Cancer Early Diagnosis

Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are a new policy initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services and Cancer Council that document the recommended care GPs and other specialists should give people with different types of cancer.

The aim of this project is to educate GPs about critical primary care points along colorectal and lung cancer OCPs and the recommended care that should be offered.  The project will offer educational sessions about the OCPs, initially to the 500 practices located in the North West Metropolitan Primary Health Network (NWMPHN). The practice visits for this pilot project will be delivered by Cancer Council Victoria Nursing staff and will involve an existing academic detailing approach.

The educational session will also help to make clear how these pathways intersect with other cancer related practice initiatives including the Health Pathways, National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) and relevant lung cancer initiatives. Specifically, this project would focus on Steps 1 and 2 of OCPs (Prevention and early detection; and Presentation, initial investigations and referral). GPs will also receive strategies and resources to assist with delivering prevention messages, understanding risk factors and predictive symptoms, screening practices, referral mechanisms and resources available to support your patients while waiting for specialist consultation and beyond.

This project is being led by Professor Jon Emery, who is a GP and Herman Chair of Primary Care Cancer Research, along with a team led by Dr Anna Boltong from Cancer Council Victoria (CCV). The project steering group has representatives from the Health Department, CCV, Integrated Cancer Services, Primary Health Networks and 2 individual GP representatives.

For further information regarding this project please contact Ms Natalie Appleby– 03 8344 3392 or nappleby@unimelb.edu.au