NSW Cancer Registry: What we found - Timeliness

Since the implementation of ePath, data are received timelier and are of higher quality. In 2021, 87% of cancer notifications were received ‘on time’ (i.e., six [6] months from diagnosis to being received by Registry holdings) compared to 0% in 2012 (see Figure 5). This increase in timeliness has significantly reduced the burden of the cancer notification process upon Registry staff as well as frontline services. 

 

Press play to hear Tina Ford’s, Senior Planning and Policy Officer, Specialty Services and Technology Evaluation Unit, Ministry of Health, feedback about timeliness of the data.

 

The implementation of AI has led to faster coding of cancer data. Between 2015 and 2021, time to complete coding a year of cancer incidence decreased by 42% from 33 to 19 months (see Figure 6, noting the increase for coding duration in 2019 was due to the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown). This demonstrates that the enhancements along all parts of the data supply and processing and availability have contributed to significant reductions in coding duration.

 

 

 

In 2017, data extraction, quality assurance and reporting took up to 921 days, with data being extracted against ambiguous terms and analysts requiring repeated engagements for up to 18 months to resolve quality concerns. In 2021, data extraction, quality assurance and reporting were completed within 63 days (See figure 7). This represents a decrease in 858 days or 2.35 years. Since data are used to facilitate the monitoring of cancer incidence, mortality and survival at the local level, the Registry can now quickly provide data back out to the cancer services improving responsiveness to their local needs.

 

Press play to hear Penny Perry’s, Data Quality Manager, Clinical Data Collections, Cancer Institute NSW, observations.