Goulburn Valley Health is one of the main public health services in West Hume region where significant number of General Practitioners (GP) are overseas trained and there is a high turnover of GP’s. The clinicians had raised concerns regarding the number of delayed referrals and incomplete diagnostic work up from GP’s. With the arrival of two local oncologists to the health service there was a ‘need to streamline the referral processes.
The project objective was to improve the GPs referral pathway information and knowledge for all tumour streams and to develop a user friendly process to ensure timely patient referrals to relevant Specialists
The methodology used was to identify the basic requirements for referral for all tumour streams. This was done in consultation with Goulburn Valley Medicare Local, GV Health and the CRG.
The outcome was the implementation of a web based referral information and pathway for each tumour stream through the Hume RICS website. This will be embed into the GP patient management software systems in the West Hume region.
This project has lead to the better coordination between Medicare local and cancer services, improved educational opportunities for local GP’s and streamlining of GP referrals. We are currently undertaking audits of the referral pathway to continually assess and monitor of any variations in care.