Peter Mac's New Centre for Health Services Research in Cancer Focuses on System-Level Improvements and Patient Outcomes

Strategic Insights -

Peter Mac's Centre for Health Services Research in Cancer will drive system-level improvements in healthcare delivery, informed by everyday patient experiences. The Centre will investigate access to care, patient treatment experiences, resource efficiency, and system improvements to enhance patient outcomes and ensure sustainable models of care. This initiative is a key part of Peter Mac's Research Strategic Plan (2025-30) to strengthen systems and services, making cancer care safer, smarter, more equitable, and person-centered.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Centre will investigate access to care, patient treatment experiences, resource efficiency, and system improvements to enhance patient outcomes.
  • The Centre will focus on generating evidence for better models of care, supporting teams to embed research into practice, and ensuring coordinated, equitable, and outcomes-focused care.
  • The Centre will build on the impactful work of Peter Mac's Department of Health Services Research and Implementation Science, including developing programs in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient support.
  • The Centre will serve as a collaborative hub, providing leadership and coordination across multiple departments, institutions, and health systems.
  • The inaugural Director of the Centre, Professor Karin Thursky, will focus on using data, including Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), to improve services and patient outcomes.
  • The Centre will forge new partnerships with communities, researchers, clinicians, and government to ensure Peter Mac operates in accord with the Australian and Victorian Cancer Plans.
  • The Centre will develop policies that promote evidence-based, cost-effective models of care, and ensure patient voices are heard and inform this change.

Statistics:

  • To date, Peter Mac's Department of Health Services Research and Implementation Science has developed programs in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient support.
  • The Centre will focus on implementing Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) across Peter Mac within an initial timeframe.
  • The Centre will ensure patient voices are heard through various mechanisms, including PROMs and other patient-centered initiatives.

Sources:

  • Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
  • Peter Mac's Research Strategic Plan (2025-30)