Peter Mac’s big night at the Public Healthcare Awards
3 min read 19 November 2024
Peter Mac's winners and finalists
Peter Mac has won four Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, including the prestigious Premier’s Large Health Service of the Year Award.
Peter Mac representatives were also thrilled to collect the Safer Care Victoria Award for safety improvement, the Excellence in Value-Based Healthcare award (as part of the West Metro Health Service Partnership) and the Partnering with Consumers to Improve Patient Experience award (alongside the other Parkville precinct hospitals).
This year Peter Mac had nine finalist entries across six award categories – the most of any health service in the state.
Three shortlisted projects were delivered alongside other Victorian health services, demonstrating the benefits of effective collaboration within the health system.
A highly competitive category, the Premier’s Large Health Service of the Year award recognises excellence in providing publicly funded healthcare.
The winning service must demonstrate leadership in delivering high quality, safe and efficient care, with a strong focus on the wellbeing of patients, families, and its workforce.
Peter Mac’s finalists were acknowledged for success in everything from partnering with consumers, to environmental sustainability, to safety improvements and volunteering.
Chief Executive Professor Jason Payne extended congratulations to the winners and praised all of Peter Mac’s nominated projects.
“It is exciting to see Peter Mac’s considered, collaborative approach to comprehensive cancer care recognised in this way,” he said.
“Winning across multiple categories illustrates the great diversity of what we do here. It also underlines our commitment to caring for each person with cancer as an individual.”
“Thank you to all Peter Mac staff and volunteers for striving tirelessly to improve cancer care and outcomes for the communities that we serve.”
Read more about each of Peter Mac’s winning projects below.
Category: Premier's Large Health Service of the Year
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre – or Peter Mac as it is known – is a globally-connected leader in cancer treatment, care, research and education. Now in its 75th year of providing specialist cancer care for the Victorian community, Peter Mac continues to break new ground and save lives.
Nearly everyone has a story about Peter Mac and its impact on their lives, or someone they know. Peter Mac's 4000-strong team of dedicated staff, including 750 researchers, are well known for their talent and commitment. Everyone is linked by a shared mission, and the values of compassion, excellence and innovation.
Category: Safer Care Victoria Award for safety improvement
Keeping Patients Safe with Enhanced Care
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre opened its innovative 6-bed Enhanced Care Unit (ECU) in 2023 to provide comprehensive monitoring and support for patients who would otherwise need to be transferred to Royal Melbourne Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Unit's highly skilled workforce provides a dedicated resuscitation and stabilisation area for deteriorating oncology patients.
Not only does the ECU impact positively on patient safety, outcomes and experience, it also improves bed access for Victorians to the adjacent Royal Melbourne Hospital Intensive Care Unit, leading to a reduction of surgery cancellations overall.
Category: Partnering with Consumers to Improve Patient Experience
The Parkville hospital disability identifier project
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Women's Hospital, The Royal Women's Hospital
Parkville's Disability Identifier electronic questionnaire was co-designed by individuals with lived experience and their carers. It provides health services a way to hear the voice of consumers with disability on admission or referral, enabling a person-centred care experience. Formal evaluation has revealed strong acceptability of the tool from consumers and clinicians. At each Parkville precinct hospital, consumers with disability can proactively identify, ensuring care teams understand their adjustment requirements, which strengthens data for policy and clinical practice to improve outcomes for patients with disability. This work is already informing clinical practice in disability identification and care in Victoria.
Category: Excellence in Value-Based Healthcare
A Regional Approach to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and Prehabilitation
West Metro Health Service Partnership: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Western Health, The Royal Women's Hospital, The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The West Metro Health Service Partnership launched the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery plus Prehabilitation (ERAS+) project to improve care for surgical patients. Through collaboration, they designed, implemented, and evaluated an innovative approach to improving the consistency and quality of surgical care across 5 hospitals.
Since its start in 2022, the project has helped over 800 patients, improving patient outcomes and experience and access to planned surgeries. Independent evaluation demonstrates cost-effectiveness of ERAS+, returning $2.62 for every dollar invested. Health services are integrating ERAS+ into regular practice, sharing learnings for wider adoption. Data and technology have ensured consistent, high-quality, patient-centred care.
