Web-based Tool to Improve Cancer Patient Care
Nova Scotia cancer patients will receive improved care as a result of a web-based tool to enhance the quality and consistency of surgical reporting.
Web Surgical Medical Reports (WebSMR), is being piloted in three sites across the province: Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority, Capital Health and the IWK Health Centre.
Funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Cancer Care Nova Scotia, WebSMR was launched in Capital Health on Monday, July 5, followed by the IWK Health Centre and Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority.
"By enhancing the consistency and quality of surgical reporting, we hope this web-based tool will help improve care by standardizing information collected on cancer patients' surgeries," said Health Minister Maureen MacDonald. "As part of government's commitment to making health care better for Nova Scotians, we look forward to seeing the results of this pilot project."
The reporting tool has a summary of essential information in checklist format. It uses standard language, and classifications to describe tumor characteristics such as size, specific location, lymph node assessment, and pre-biopsy work. Surgeons submit the information directly into a patient's medical record, which other health professionals can quickly access to determine a diagnosis and the best course of treatment.
"Synoptic reporting is really a way of translating knowledge into action," said Dr. Geoff Porter, surgical oncologist and leader of the Surgical Synoptic Reporting Tools Project. "Aside from timely access and improved accuracy of surgical reports, this tool can incorporate well-established treatment guidelines and improve communication among clinicians.
"It's also an important tool for quality improvement, education and research as it can help describe practice patterns and assist in bringing important elements of care into clinical practice."
The pilot aims to have 80 per cent of surgeons using the tool to record 100 per cent of their cases. During the pilot, the project team will explore the potential for expanding the tool across the province, recording other cancer surgeries and connecting with other elements of the cancer system such as pathology.
"Web Surgical Medical Reports has the ability to benefit the entire cancer care system in Nova Scotia," said Dr. Porter. "Surgical synoptic reporting can be used to track information, to better understand the information, and to link with other systems for a broader view of cancer. The benefit will be improved patient care."
"Canada is a leader in the implementation of synoptic reporting, with Nova Scotia among five provinces participating in this pilot," said Caroline Heick, vice-president of knowledge management at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. "This initiative is a good example of our mandate in action -- working with Canada's cancer community to implement system changes with the greatest potential to improve patient outcomes."
The Surgical Synoptic Reporting Tools Project will be piloted until March 2011. It is being implemented in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta. Nova Scotia is leading the breast cancer component and is participating in the colorectal and head and neck cancer trial.
In addition to the three pilot sites, the partners in Nova Scotia are the Department of Health, Cancer Care Nova Scotia, the Health Information Technology Service Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Breast Cancer Screening Program.