Supporting implementation of the Optimal Care Pathways
The Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are a nationally endorsed framework for delivering consistent, safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care to people affected by cancer.
They are a key mechanism within the Victorian Cancer Plan. The VICS help health services and other health providers to:
- implement the OCP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer
- address unwarranted variations in cancer care and outcomes
- monitor and communicate alignment with the OCPs.
VICS priority areas
Implementing the Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
Aboriginal people continue to experience a different pattern of cancer incidence and significant disparities in cancer outcomes, compared with non-Indigenous Australians: They are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer and over 3 times more likely to die from cancer than other Victorians.
The Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Cancer complements the OCPs for specific tumour types, to facilitate culturally safe and competent care. It outlines aspects of cancer care that must be responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The VICS are collaborating with Aboriginal Controlled Health Organisations and other key partners to:
- improve knowledge of the pathway within healthcare workforces
- improve understanding of the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.
To support implementation of this OCP and further improvements in care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer, the VICS commissioned the artwork below from Aboriginal artist Vegas Fitzmaurice in 2022.
OCP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
Hope and Connection – Bunjil, by Vegas Fitzmaurice, 2022. All rights reserved, Victorian Integrated Cancer Services. This artwork is protected by the Australian Copyright Act (1968). No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the artist. Please direct any enquiries via the VICS contact form.
Addressing unwarranted variations in cancer care and outcomes
An unwarranted variation is a difference in access and use of health services – or in patient outcomes – that cannot be explained by differences in patients’ illness, needs, or preferences. That is, a chance to improve quality and equity of care.
Victoria’s mechanism to agree priorities for reducing unwarranted variations in cancer care and outcomes, relative to the OCPs, is the VICS Optimal Care Summits program (formerly known as the Victorian Tumour Summits).
The VICS and our partners support implementation of actions and recommentations from each summit, through statewide and local service improvement activities.
VICS Optimal Care Summits
Monitoring and communicating alignment with the OCPs
The VICS use available data sources to monitor and communicate Victorian health services’ alignment with the Optimal Care Pathways and the Victorian Paediatric Oncology Care Pathways.
WCMICS is leading a statewide project to implement a standardised monitoring and reporting process, using data from:
- The Victorian Statewide Cancer Clinical Indicator Platform (SCIP)
- Cancer Services Performance Indicator (CSPI) audits
- The Victorian data Access Linkage Trust (VALT).
