Variations in cancer outcomes unfortunately exist despite excellent outcomes measures in Australia and Queensland specifically. We have now published measures of cancer outcomes via a Quality Index over domains of care for all cancers and large volume cancers separately.
Analysis of factors affecting breast cancer outcomes show that access to treatment is an independent variable and is driven by dependence on public sector care.
We will discuss the data options available on a population level and viability to monitor equity. Any option requires ease of measurement during clinical care to enable/monitor rather than traditional measures focused on death. We will present data reflecting effect of delay in public/private sector, health service and jurisdictional comparisons. Recently through our indigenous advisory committee we have been able to examine the effects of delay in our indigenous population.
Using the population process of data linkages allows us to focus on real time measures via multidisciplinary cancer teams software solutions. This identifies cancer populations specific to hospital/services before the usual delay seen in population statistics. A dashboard approach identifies performance against disease specific indicators. Results are also presented as funnel plots for service comparisons though individual services are not named unless they agree.
We suggest that routine monitoring and development of accepted KPI’s will allow us to measure the impact of service enhancements and focus on specific populations with the equity lens. This approach will be vital in delivering gains needed for the Australian Cancer Plan and Queensland Cancer Strategy.