The PanSupport Patient and Carer Support Program
Project description
Pancare Foundation provides support to patients and carers impacted by pancreatic, liver, biliary, oesophageal and stomach cancers, from diagnosis, all the way through treatment, to end of life and ongoing counselling for bereaved carers through the PanSupport Team. Pancare offers no-cost holistic, specialist nursing (PanSupport Upper GI Nurses), counselling and bespoke support (including a financial assistance program, care coordination and navigation, tailored patient cancer resources and patient and carer support groups) for anyone with upper GI cancer and their families through the PanSupport Team. These have collectively given hope and connection for thousands of Australians and helped them maintain their physical and emotional wellbeing during the toughest challenge of their lives. It is important to note that all Pancare's work is charitably funded as we currently receive no government support.
The PanSupport team continues to be at the forefront of patient care and support for those affected by upper GI cancers, providing support for people living with upper GI cancers and their families from the point of diagnosis through to treatment, to end of life and beyond. Investment in both Patient and Carer Services has increased from 5.7% to 27.5% in 3 years (2019-2021), including a move to Telehealth Specialist Nurse and Counselling, referral to Allied Health specialists, online forums, and production of targeted educational resources. In 2021 alone, PanSupport delivered over 1000 instances of consultations, support groups and care assistance to patients and carers. Beyond this, the PanSupport team endeavours to ensure patients are effectively integrated with other specialist services with 12% of our patients referred to external specialists.
Pancare is now building upon its solid foundations of service and support care on a clear path for developing and delivering more and better integrated services for all Australians affected by UGI cancers over the next five years. Expansion of the PanSupport program, through a joint initiative with primary health care nurses, would increase awareness of the PanSupport program to upper GI cancer patient support along with educating thousands of nurses on upper GI cancers, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Outcomes
The PanSupport Program provides patients and their families impacted by upper GI cancers, with dedicated, supportive care, which can lead to:
Improved access to dedicated nursing, counselling and financial support
Increased access to information and education
Greater connection with others going through similar experiences
Improved emotional wellbeing
Reduced financial toxicity
Greater self-efficacy
Improved quality of life
Impact on the healthcare professional
Through communications to more than 26,000 practice nurses via various communications channels and content mediums, a whole new workforce will be aware of the psychosocial holistic and wellbeing support that the PanSupport team offers to patients, carers and their families.
Impact on the healthcare institution
The significant practice nursing workforce across Australia will now have ‘fingertip’ access to PanSupport services that they can introduce to patients’ carers and their families. This will assist in improving quality of life for 13,100 people across Australis impacted by these rare and forgotten cancers.
Proposer
Pancare Foundation
70 Yarra Street
Heidelberg VIC 3081
Project contact person:
Dr Amy Larsen (PanSupport Program Enablement Manager)
amy.larsen@pancare.org.au
Other project team members:
David Menzies (Head of PanSupport)
Shannon Gleeson (PanSupport GI Cancer Specialist Nurse, Telehealth Specialist)
Sonia Mursec (PanSupport Care Coordinator, Financial Assistance Program Coordinator)
Mira Patel (PanSupport Emotional Wellbeing Counsellor)