Health services are working together to improve patient outcomes after surgery
01 May 2024
Health services have been working together to improve patient outcomes after surgery. The collaboration involving Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Werribee Mercy Hospital and Western Health has focused on high-impact surgery such as head and neck cancer, benign gynaecology, gynecologic oncology, hip and knee joint replacement, and colorectal procedures.
Early data from the pilot shows that the new approach is yielding results, with complication rates reduced, and readmission rates improved amongst patients undergoing surgery. As of 1 March 2023, 816 patients have been enrolled in the program, and an evaluation is underway to better understand the outcomes and benefits of this model of care within our WMHSP context.
In 2023, over 200,500 Victorians had planned surgery at our hospitals. The literature suggests that up to a third of them would have experienced post-operative complications. The risk is higher for patients who are less fit or malnourished . With age also increasing the risk of post-surgery difficulties, clinicians across the five services were keen to work together to find ways to reduce the impact on their patients.
The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Project is part of the West Metro Health Service Partnership’s Planned Surgery Reform Program, which is bringing health services together to reduce length of stay and readmission rates; optimise theatre capacity; strengthen non-surgical pathways; and improve referral and waitlist management.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery is an evidence-based approach to surgical care that aims to minimise the stress of surgery for patients and support them to recover quickly. The approach begins before patients are admitted for surgery and continues after the operation, bringing clear advantages for patients and potential savings for the health care system.
Teresa, a patient who had been through the Head and Neck pathway of the program, said it had been very beneficial knowing what to expect. “I’m very grateful there was a protocol... if I didn’t have those services, I don’t think I would have been fully prepared, and not even physically prepared but more so mentally and emotionally.”
The group is now looking at how this approach can be extended to other types of surgery and across hospitals in targeted pathways, to not only help hospitals reduce surgical cost, but to also improve patient experience and outcomes.
For more information on this program of work, contact Suyin Ng:
The West Metro Health Service Partnership brings together some of Victoria’s premier health services to build a more resilient health system through collaboration and reform. Our members include Werribee Mercy Hospital (WMH), Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac), the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), the Royal Women’s Hospital (the Women’s), and Western Health. The North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is an associate member.