Strong for Oesophagogastric Cancer Surgery (SOCS)

A NEMICS Service Improvement Grant Funded Project

Strong for Oesophagogastric Cancer Surgery (SOCS)

With support from a NEMICS service improvement grant, Austin Health implemented a personalised, multi-faceted, pre-surgical, and non-pharmacological prehabilitation program named Strong for Oesophagogastric Cancer Surgery (SOCS).

With the support of NEMICS, and in collaboration with 11 medical, allied health and research teams, the program was implemented at Austin Health and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre.

Impacts

The model has been shown to reduce post-operative respiratory and cardiac complications, reduce severity of surgical complications, reduce duration of intubation post-surgery, reduce length of hospital admission post operatively, reduce readmission rates post discharge, and increase rates of starting adjuvant chemotherapy in the 21 initial patients. It has also led to improved patient experience and outcomes following oesophagogastric cancer surgery within the NEMICS network.

Outcome

Due to the success of the project Austin Health has now funded the program as their standard of care. The new funding will support a multidisciplinary program of clinical nurse consultant (CNC), anaesthetist, surgeon, dietitian, exercise oncologist, clinical psychologist and nurse-led admin. support to standardise and improve care for patients with oesophagogastric cancer who undergo surgery.

Contact

Dr David Liu, david.liu2@austin.org.au