Nurse-Led Geriatric Oncology Model of Care, Liverpool Hospital
A multidisciplinary team at Liverpool Hospital has co-designed, implemented and evaluated a Nurse-Led Geriatric Oncology Model of Care (NL-GOMOC) to support older people with lung cancer. This innovative model was co-designed with oncologists, nurses, geriatricians, allied health professionals, administrative staff, information technology experts, researchers, and consumers, ensuring authentic collaboration.
The model addresses the unique needs of older patients, who often face complex health challenges and are underrepresented in clinical trials. It was informed by qualitative interviews with older people with cancer, highlighting unmet needs.
A specialist aged care cancer nurse conducted geriatric assessments alongside routine oncology clinic appointments, using validated tools embedded in the hospital’s MOSAIQ system. Assessment results triggered timely referrals to allied health and support services. Patients were reviewed weekly at a virtual MDT meeting, ensuring coordinated treatment planning. The nurse followed up with the patient at 4–6 weeks to confirm that the recommendations had been implemented. Automation streamlined eligibility screening, real-time documentation, and GP follow-up letters, improving efficiency and sustainability. Evaluation of the model was undertaken through comparing the outcomes of hospitalisations, emergency department (ED) presentations, and treatment toxicities with a historical control group that had no geriatric assessment. NL-GOMOC implementation reduced hospitalisations, ED presentations and systemic grade 3+ toxicities. Patient satisfaction and acceptability were surveyed and found to be high at 98%.
This nurse-led model personalises cancer care for older people, improves outcomes, and enhances the patient experience, reflecting the NSW Cancer Plan’s priorities of optimal cancer treatment, care, and support, as well as cancer research.
ASTuTE Clinical Trial Team
The ASTuTE clinical trial, led by Newcastle based Radiation Oncologists Prof. Jarad Martin and Dr Eric Wegener from GenesisCare, is investigating how an AI-based precision medicine test can guide shared treatment decision making for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The Artera AI prostate test, a validated AI digital histopathology biomarker, provides prognostic information on a patient's risk of future disease progression and predictive information on the likely benefit of the addition of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to radiotherapy for men diagnosed with a type of prostate cancer termed ‘intermediate risk’ prostate cancer. By integrating the Artera AI Prostate Test into the care pathway, the study empowers patients and clinicians with information that enables them to make more informed choices about the use of short-term ADT alongside radiotherapy.
Interim results from the first 200 participants show that over 70% of patients initially considered for ADT ultimately avoided it, reducing unnecessary side effects and improving quality of life. The study is currently open at 11 centres across NSW (and a further 30 centres nationally) with 12 investigators in the state. There are plans to recruit a total of 800 participants to the study nationally, with approximately 25% expected to be in NSW.
Information about the award
The Cancer Control Innovation Award honours an individual or team who has made significant contribution to improving cancer prevention, treatment and/or care and overall experience or outcomes for the people in NSW through a novel and original innovative project or model of care implemented at any stage of the cancer control spectrum.