The North Eastern Metropolitan Breast Services Enhancement
Program (BSEP) consortium included:
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne (lead hospital)
Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre (A&RMC)
Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (PMCI)
The Northern Hospital
Overall responsibility for the consortium's BSEP was via
a committee of management whose members were representatives
of the consortium hospitals, specialist health professionals
working in the area of breast disease, consumers and general
practitioners. A clinical coordinator, full time program manager
and part time project workers were based at St Vincent's Hospital.
A consumer advisory sub-committee was established to ensure
consumer input into the development, implementation and evaluation
of projects undertaken. The projects aimed at improving the
quality, accessibility and coordination of breast services
in the region in line with evidence based practice. The focus
of the projects was on multi-disciplinary care, breast care
nurses, communication and information requirements, integration
and continuity of care.
Program Objectives
Following extensive consultation and collaboration with stakeholders
in the north east metropolitan region, the Program aimed to:
Develop, trial and evaluate innovative projects to enhance
management and care of women with breast disease.
Undertake projects that cover the spectrum of breast disease,
not just breast cancer.
Seek to implement strategies and processes that are sustainable,
based on evidence based best practice and are supported
by consumers and members of the multidisciplinary team in
the acute and primary care settings.
Make evaluation findings available so that successful
programs can be replicated in other areas.
