For the fifth consecutive year, a survey has found that Sydney Adventist Hospital leads the way in providing an excellent cancer outpatient experience.
According to the 2021 Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Outpatient Cancer Clinics Survey, the San’s Integrated Cancer Centre is the only cancer clinic in New South Wales to achieve eight measures significantly higher than the NSW result.
Patients were asked to evaluate their experience of access to services, care planning and coordination, complications, follow-up and support.
The report also compares patients’ experiences in rural and urban facilities, examines patients’ experiences of virtual care, and provides insights into differences in experiences between patients who speak a language other than English at home and those who speak English, on selected measures.
While the San performed strongly in all categories, the highest results were in the areas of “timely and coordinated care” and in a “safe, comfortable environment”.
The results reflect the experiences of more than 8000 people who attended one of 42 facilities housing outpatient cancer clinics in November 2021. The survey included 310 San Integrated Cancer Centre patients.
Clinical director of the Integrated Cancer Service Professor Gavin Marx said achieving the highest ranking in the state for five consecutive years shows the great success of the San’s model of care.
“The integrated nature of our care, which we have worked very carefully to achieve, is fundamental to a comfortable and positive experience,” he said. “In addition to excellent clinical and surgical work, we pay attention to a patient’s emotional wellbeing.
“A cancer patient’s experience can be broad, stressful and traumatic simply because of the complex nature of the disease. This is why the way in which patients experience the non-medical aspects of a cancer service can influence how they and their carers cope, how they respond and what their ultimate outcomes are.
“This year’s BHI survey results once again shows that the San takes this seriously and continues to treat patients with respect and empathy during a difficult time. Areas in which we’d like to perform better will be looked at and addressed as part of the San’s core commitment to continuous improvement.”
CEO Brett Goods expressed his pride in the hospital’s performance and congratulated the team.
“The San’s solid strategy around whole-person health, along with our Christianity in Action mission, are clearly having a positive impact on patient experience,” he said. “We are proud to offer a personalised approach to care that ensures our patients are supported every step of the way with empathy and commitment to a high-quality experience.”
The San Integrated Cancer Centre offers a comprehensive approach to cancer care for the local community, including medical oncology and radiation oncology services under the one roof. The hospital also offers extensive cancer support services, providing a wide range of services to the community, including support groups, education, counselling, bereavement support and other resources.
The survey is the result of a partnership by BHI and the Cancer Institute NSW with the aim on improving understanding and quality of the patient experience.
