Tabbada, Emil

Mackenzie, Adrienne

Chen, Yen-Chang

2025-03-23

Introduction/Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of a service model change in the Alice Springs Hospital Respiratory Service intended to reduce the time from referral to treatment for lung cancer patients in Central Australia. A key component of the service model change is the appointment of an onsite resident respiratory specialist. Additional changes include increased access to bronchoscopic procedures, enhanced collaboration with the multidisciplinary lung cancer team, and developing a clinical care pathway for patients who are initially suspected and have been diagnosed to have lung cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort design will measure primary care intervals (IPC) or the time lapsed from when general practitioners have seen the patient to referral to a respiratory specialist, referral intervals (IR) or the time taken from being referred to a specialist to a confirmed diagnosis, and treatment intervals (IT) or the time from diagnosis to treatment. The data will encompass 4 years before the service model change has been introduced and a year after its introduction. The availability of a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting document will also be included. Results: Preliminary results indicate an improvement in the service delivery in terms of primary care interval (IPC), referral intervals (IR), treatment intervals (IT), diagnostic intervals (ID) and health care intervals (IHC), with the general trend indicating shorter time lapses in between intervals. MDT notes have also been provided ever since the service model change. Conclusion: The appointment of an on-site respiratory specialist, complemented by access to diagnostic procedures, and increased collaboration with the MDT will enable provision of care that is comparative with national benchmarks complying with guidelines set by the Cancer Council in terms of time required from referral to treatment for lung cancer patients.

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/14204

lung cancer

care coordination

treatment interval

Central Australia

Alice Springs Hospital

The implementation of a service model change for lung cancer pathway in Central Australia improves referral and treatment interval time.

Conference poster

Publication