VICTORIA’S CANCER ACTION PLAN 2008-2011 GRANTS PROGRAM
INTEGRATED CANCER SERVICES PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS
PROJECT PLAN
PROJECT NAME
Urological Cancer Partnership Program between Hume RICS, NEMICS & WCMICS
PARTICIPATING INTEGRATED CANCER SERVICES
ICS: Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Service (Hume RICS)
Contact person: Chris Packer
Position / Title: Manager Hume RICS
Phone: 0439 556 525
Email: chris.packer@humerics.humehealth.org.au
ICS: North East Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Service (NEMICS)
Contact person: Christine Scott
Position / Title: Manager NEMICS
Phone: 03 9496 3322
Email: christine.scott@austin.org.au
ICS: Western & Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS)
Contact person: Jenny Byrnes
Position / Title: Manager WCMICS
Phone: 03 9656 2783
Email: jenny.byrne@wcmics.org
BACKGROUND
To reduce variation in care and improve cancer outcomes, there is a need for better
management of patients with rare/low volume cancers. This could be achieved by developing
systems to improve access to high quality care for all patients with rare/low volume cancers.
With some low volume cancers, histological features may not be well known by general
pathologists. This can result in a delayed diagnosis, or mis-diagnosis, increasing the risk of
marked variation of care. As a consequence the patient may not access standard care resulting
in reduced chance of remission or curative treatment.
Regional pathologists sometimes work in isolation. Especially in the case of low volume cancers
there is often a need to consult colleagues to confirm a pathological diagnosis. Support systems
to enable pathologists to consult with and send samples to colleagues are not well developed.
Once a diagnosis is made the treating clinicians need to be able to access a multidisciplinary
team to develop a management plan based on standards of care/evidence based medicine.
There is a need to increase awareness of and access to clinical trials and other research
initiatives including tissue banks.
There is a need to improve systems to support translational research including correlation of
pathology with clinical outcomes. Statewide systems to facilitate the collection of
clinicopathological data are not well developed but some tools that could enable these
improvements are in place.
Renal cancer and testis cancer have been chosen as examples of low volume cancers to enhance
work already being done to improve care of patients with these tumours. According to the
Victorian cancer registry data there were 564 cases of renal cancer in Victoria in 2005 and 161
cases of testis cancer. This represents 2.4% and 0.7% respectively of all cancer diagnoses.
Work has been done by many ICS to develop multidisciplinary teams (MDT) for the management
of patients with urological cancers. In addition work has been done specifically in renal cancer to
develop a clinicopathological data base (ACCORD) linked to the state-wide research database
(BioGrid).
1
OBJECTIVES
This project aims to develop an integrated system for the diagnosis and initial management of
low volume cancers. We wish to develop system improvements that can facilitate routine second
opinion for pathological diagnosis of rare cancers and link patients with low volume cancers into
multidisciplinary teams, clinical research, clinicopathological databases and tissue banking.
The project will develop a system for piloting pathological review of rare cancers.
This will include
 Developing a system for routine review of all cases of suspected renal and testes cancer
that will support and link regional pathologists with state-wide expert pathologists
 Developing synaptic/standardised reporting for these tumours, which will promote
referral to existing MDTs , promote referral and recruitment to clinical trials and promote
referral of specimens to biobank (tissue bank)
collection of clinicopathological data (ACCORD/BioGrid system)
Expected benefits include
 Reduced variation of care, improved care coordination and improved outcomes for
patients with a low volume cancer
 Enhancement of translational and clinical research
 Utilisation and enhancement of existing ICS resources and staff including MDT meeting
coordinators, MDTs and data systems
It is expected that during this project 75-100 patients will be diagnosed with renal or testicular
cancer within the Hume region. If extended to other low volume cancers on a state-wide basis
many 100s of patients per year will benefit form this project. Similarly in this project, several
regionally based pathologists (who play a pivotal role in clinical cancer services and of which
there exists a critical shortage) will be supported; extending this pilot to other low volume
cancers will support dozens of regional pathologists who may be retained in the regional cancer
services. In addition metropolitan pathology services will be supported to develop improved
systems to link with and mentor regional pathology services.
SCOPE (INCLUSION & EXCLUSION)
This partnership project will develop a pilot for the diagnosis and management of low volume
urological cancers. It will develop and strengthen partnerships between two metropolitan and
one regional ICS, and a number of state agencies, developing referral pathways, establishing
mentoring between regional and metropolitan clinicians. It will strengthen the engagement of
regional and metropolitan based members of established MDTs, and build on existing ICS MDT
capacity and statewide research endeavours.
It will scope and develop a system for routine review of cases of suspected cases of renal and
testes cancer to facilitate a system for review of pathology specimens via webconference,
generation of a synaptic report that includes referral information to recognised urology MDTS,
information regarding access to clinical trials and biobanking, and collection of information into
ACCORD (BioGrid database).
The project includes a component for the integration of existing data systems such as
ACCORD/BioGrid into routine care (it does not include for example the development and funding
of new data systems which is excluded under the grant guidelines). It includes the purchase of
some equipment but this is not the main component of the project (as per ICS partnership
projects information document.). Existing webconferencing systems (WebEx) will be utilised.
Initially cases may be reviewed by sending slides between sites with the assistance of ICS
meeting coordinators and administrative assistants. The possibility of linking this project with
new digital pathology imaging systems already placed into partner sites (Aperio
http://www.aperio.com/) and enhancing this project with the Digital Regions Initiative
(http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications/digital_regions_initiative) is being/will be explored.
This project could serve as a pilot for developing systems for improvement in management of
other low volume cancers (including sarcoma, neuroendocrine tumours and thyroid cancers)
LINKAGES TO KEY STRATEGIES
A number of This project aligns with a number of strategic goals of the ICS and VCAP.
It links to 3 priority service improvement areas for reform to be addressed at the local and
state-wide levels in Cancer Services Framework for Victoria -multidisciplinary care, care
coordination reducing variation in care and unwanted variation in practice (quality monitoring
2
and support).
This project aligns with several aims of Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan 2008-2011 in particular
Actions areas 2 (priority 1,2 and 3),Action area 3( priority 1,2) and Action Area 4 (priority 1)
It links to Hume RICS, NEMICS and WMICS strategic plans.
This meets a number of objectives if the ICS partnerships project including
 strengthening the multidisciplinary team approach
 developing and implementing formal referral pathways
 establishing mentoring programs
 fostering service enhancement based on developing or strengthening relationships
between ICS
 strengthening the tumour stream approach
 building capacity through development of partnerships
 developing strategic alliances across the care continuum
KEY TASKS, DELIVERABLES & TIMEFRAMES
Project Stages & Key Tasks
PROJECT ESTABLISHMENT (Oct 09-Feb 10)
Attend project initiation meeting 5th Oct 2009
Establish project steering group
Develop more detailed project plan including
methodologies, evaluation and risk management
STAGE ONE: SCOPING 30April 10 – 23 Jul 10
 Prepare first progress report as per template
 Advertise and recruit project officer
Deliverables
/Outcomes
Due Dates
Oct 2009
Nov 2009
Project Plan
Feb 2010
Progress report submitted
Project officer recruitment
proved more difficult than
first anticipated, hence
the appointment to the
position on June 07,2010.
30 April 2010
June 07, 2010
Present project at Clinical
Reference Groups,
Network meetings, MDT
meetings
30 June 2010
STAGE TWO: IMPLEMENTATION 23 July 10 –
September 10
 Communication of project to
stakeholders/stakeholder engagement
 Identifying salaried pathologists who consider
themselves experts in renal cancer to sit on
“state-wide reference panel”
 Identification of existing urology MDTs in Hume
RICS, NEMICS and WCMICS
 Consult with pathologists in Hume RICS
(Shepparton, Wangaratta and Albury-Wodonga)
 Confirmation of participation by “expert panel”
Prepare second progress report as per template
Develop agreed system for facilitating transfer of
specimens to expert panel (assisted by Hume
RICS, NEMICS and WCMICS MDT meeting
coordinators); scope existing systems for
webconferencing
On or before
9 July 2010
Develop reference Panel
MDT schedule
Undertake baseline
satisfaction evaluations
Implementation of
‘Expert panel’
July
July
July
July
Progress report submitted
23July 2010
Development of system
for facilitating transfer of
specimens to expert
panel. Existing systems
for web-conferencing
scoped
August 2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
Sep 2010
August 2010
3
Members of reference panel, participating regional
pathologists, and participating MDTs identified on
ICS and Cancer Australia websites
Confirmation of agreed processes for regular
webconference for experts to meet to discuss
cases (which will include participation by regional
clinicians), including TOR, use of ACCORD
database, patient consent
ICS and Cancer Australia
websites reflects
members of reference
panel, pathologists, MDTs
participating in project
August 2010
Sep 2010
Development of
processes/TOR for
webconferencing ACCORD
database, patient consent
Process implemented
Sep 2010
Implementation of processes for participating
MDTs to complete ACCORD database
STAGE 3 IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION
September – November 2010
Development of synaptic report for renal and
testes cancer which will include information on
existing MDTs, clinical trials, information on
biobank, consent form for collection of information
for ACCORD
Conduct of first state-wide reference panel
Progress report 3
Develop sustainability plan
Synaptic report for renal
and testes cancer
State-wide reference
panel meeting held
Oct 2010
22 Nov 2010
Progress report submitted
12 Nov 2010
Create document and
training plan for
introduction & integration
for current staff
30 Nov 2010
STAGE 4 SUSTAINABILITY PHASE 30 Nov –
June 2011
Improvement of model
Model modified as
appropriate
Implement sustainability plan
Deliver Training to current
staff of
systems/procedures of
Urology Cancer Project
Completion of project evaluation
Submission of final
project report
March 2011
18 April 2011
14 June 2011
4
VICTORIA’S CANCER ACTION PLAN 2008-2011 GRANTS PROGRAM
INTEGRATED CANCER SERVICES PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS
WORK PLAN TEMPLATE
DATE
PROJECT ACTIVITY
Project Establishment
Establish steering group
Nov09
X
Initial meeting steering
committee
Dec09
Jan10
Mar10
Apr10
May10
Jun10
Jul10
Aug10
Sep10
Oct10
Nov10
Dec10
Jan-11
Feb-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
Mar10
Apr10
May10
Jun10
Jul10
Aug10
Sep10
Oct10
Nov10
Dec10
Jan-11
Feb-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
X
Submit detailed project
plan
Stage ONE - Scoping
Feb10
X
Nov09
Dec09
Jan10
Feb10
Deliverable One - 1st
Progress report
X
Advertise for Project
Coordinator
X
Recruit Project
Coordinator
X
X
Identification of existing
Urology MDTs in Hume
RICS, NEMICS &
WCMICS
Identify salaried
pathologists who
consider themselves
experts in renal cancer to
sit on "state wide reference panel"
Confirmation of
participation by "expert
panel"
Deliverable Two - 2nd
Progress Report
X
X
X
X
5
Stage TWO Implementation
Develop agreed system
for facilitating transfer of
specimens to expert
panel (assisted by Hume
RICS, NEMICS and
WCMICS MDT meeting
coordinators); scope
existing systems for
webconferencing
Members of reference
panel, participating
regional pathologists,
and participating MDTs
identified on ICS and
Cancer Australia websites
Confirmation of agreed
processes for regular
webconference for
experts to meet to
discuss cases (which will
include participation by
regional clinicians),
including TOR, use of
ACCORD database,
patient consent
Nov09
Dec09
Jan10
Feb10
Mar10
Apr10
May10
Jun10
Jul10
Aug10
X
Sep10
Oct10
Nov10
Dec10
Jan-11
Feb-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
X
X
Implementation of
processes for
participating MDTs to
complete ACCORD
database
6
Jun-11
Stage THREE Implementation &
Evaluation
Development of synaptic
report for renal and
testes cancer which will
include information on
existing MDTs, clinical
trials, information on
biobank, consent form
for collection of
information for ACCORD
Nov09
Dec09
Jan10
Feb10
Mar10
Apr10
May10
Jun10
Jul10
Aug10
Sep10
Oct10
Nov10
Dec10
X
X
Jan-11
Feb-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
X
Conduct first state-wide
reference panel
Develop sustainability
plan
X
X
Conduct first state-wide
reference panel
X
Develop
Sustainability/succession
plan
X
X
X
Deliverable Three - 3rd
Progress Report
Stage FOUR Sustainability Phase
Improvement of model
Implementation of
sustainability plan
Completion of project
evaluation
X
X
Nov09
Dec09
Jan10
Feb10
Mar10
Apr10
May10
Jun10
Jul10
Aug10
Sep10
Oct10
Nov10
Dec10
Jan-11
Feb-11
X
X
X
X
Deliverable Four - 4th &
Final Progress Report
X
7
CONSUMER PARTICIPATION
A consumer with advocacy training will be invited to participate on project advisory group.
Hume RICS will advertise an EOI from the Hume consumer group (Hume RICS consumer
participation strategy) and in addition seek appropriately skilled consumers from NEMICS and
WCMICS.
Using the Hume RICS consumer reference group established in CanNET, and consumers from
NEMICS, the following will be undertaken:
• consult with consumers on their information needs in regard to second opinions, referral to
MDTS, clinical trial and tissue banking access
• identify gaps or issues in relation to current information
• develop and pilot information materials about the project
STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Expert input for this project will be provided by a number of Statewide clinical experts and
Organisations.
Proposed membership of project steering committee will include representation from Hume
RICS, NEMICS, WCMICS, (ICS Directors and Managers) regional & metro pathology providers
(public & private) and college of pathology, regional & metro urologist, VCOG urology rep,
biobank representative, BioGrid representative and a consumer representative.
This project will utilise existing ICS human resources including ICS managers, directors, network
coordinators, data analysts and MDT meeting coordinators.
The Governance Group who will provide project sponsoring membership will be Dr Craig
Underhill (Hume RICS), Dr Joe McKendrick and (NEMICS) Prof Jeff Szer (WCMICS).
Together, the project staff would need to meet the following criteria:
 Experience in project management
 Experience in change management
 Knowledge of regional and rural issues
Project staff will need the flexibility to work virtually and travel between sites within the three
ICS’
PARTNERSHIPS
This project will promote a number of partnership opportunities including:
 Partnerships between Hume RICS, NEMICS, WCMICS, project and general staff
 Partnerships between public and private pathology providers
 Strengthen tumour stream approach by fostering partnerships between medical providers
of care of patients with renal and testis cancers (including urologists, medical oncologist,
radiation oncologists, pathologists)
 Links with other state-wide initiatives such as BioGrid and Biobank.
 Develops partnerships with pathologists and Royal Australian College of Pathologists to
develop sustainable systems to support regional and metropolitan pathology providers.
 Builds on work done by Mentoring Management of Haematological Malignancies / CanNET
Victoria projects for piloting of models of multidisciplinary meetings conducted by
webconference.
The project will also develop links with the Cancer Institute NSW Structured Pathology Reporting
Project
8
COMMUNICATION PLAN/STRATEGY
Stakeholder
Communication
Group
Purpose
Cancer & Palliative
Project progress outlining
Care, Department
activities, deliverables,
of Health
and reporting of any
variation from project
plan, budget update,
issues, risk management
and evaluation.
Hume RICS
Project promotion,
Executive,
progress reports
Network & Clinical
reference Group
Distribute to Dept Health
Committees
Hume RICS,
NEMICS, WCMICS
ICS Directors
Establish Governance and
communication re the
project.
Clinicians:
 Pathologists
local and Metro
 Urology MDT
local & Metro
members
Local clinical
stakeholders
Project promotion,
progress
Hume RICS
Consumer
networks in Hume
WebEX
CanNET
PET
Project Overview
Project awareness &
promotion
Project progress
Feedback relating to
patient information & care
co-ordination.
Communication Method
Progress Reports as per
reporting template
Project Overview &
progress Reports (email &
website)
Develop formal feedback
processes
Letter of intent to be
developed outlining
responsibilities etc
Formal Agreements
outlining funding MOU Arrangements between
Hume RICS, NEMICS &
WCMICS
Project Overview,
Progress Reports (email &
website)
Time
Frame
30 April
23 July
12 Nov
2011
28 Feb
14 June
30 April
23 July
12 Nov
2011
28 Feb
14 June
Stage 1 of
project
Bi monthly
Verbal & written updates
at MDT Meetings
Brief 2 minute update @
relevant MDMs
Summary of progress
Reports (Local Consumer
Newsletter, email &
website)
Project Marketing
Information brochure
Consultation focus groups
– as appropriate,
participation on Network
Committees and project
working parties as
appropriate. Modified
version, demystify
medical terms
Progress Reports
(emailed)
NEMICS, WCMICS &
Hume RICS websites
Bi monthly
Initial
implementat
ion of
project
Ongoing
IT professionalsHume RCS and
NEMICS &
WCMICS.
Project promotion,
progress & participation
invite, Needs Analysis,
Evaluation, Feedback
Bi monthly
VCOG – urology
group. Other
learned
colleagues, eg
colleague of
pathology
NEMICS & Hume
RICS Project and
ICS staff
Project promotion,
progress
Progress Reports,
evaluation (email &
website)
Quarterly
development of
communication strategies
for working virtually
across both ICS’
(email & website,
progress report)
Identify working
group/develop email to
CU/CP/KS/JB/KM
Bi monthly
9
RISKS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT (CONTROL)
VICTORIA’S CANCER ACTION PLAN 2008-2011 GRANTS PROGRAM
INTEGRATED CANCER SERVICES PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS
RISK MANAGEMENT TEMPLATE
Likelihood
Consequence
5
5
Risk Rating
Extreme
4
Likely
4
Major
3
Possible
3
Moderate
2
Unlikely
2
Low
1
Rare
1
Negligible
5
5
Likelihood
Certain
4
3
2
1
Extreme
Extreme
High
Medium
Medium
4
Consequence
3
1
Extreme
High
Medium
Medium
High
High
Medium
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Low
Medium
Medium
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Action area
Risk implications
Likelihood
Consequence
Risk rating
Implementation &
sustainability
Engagement of Metro
expert pathologists and
pathology labs to be
involved
4 Likely
4 Major
High
Engagement of
regional & Metro
pathologists/clinicians
3 possible
3 moderate
Medium
Meeting objectives of
project
2
Risk minimisation
strategy
Engagement of
pathologists early in the
development phase of the
project. Involvement in
publications
Strategies to mitigate
risks will be widespread
communication of the
project, inclusion of key
stakeholders on the
project committee,
consultation with
stakeholders, using
existing structures /
organisations to promote
and engage (MDT, VCOG,
10
College of Pathologists.
commitment from local
Regional pathologists for
patients’ slides to have a
second opinion. Involve
Clinical Leaders
Technology
requirements
Quality of the
technology of video
conferencing to display
the pathology images
3 possible
5 extreme
High
Professional
development -Training
and mentoring/second
opinions
Professional
development
Regional MDTs
/clinicians being able to
access online images
and patient details
Buy in from urologists
and agreement
potentially to refer
histopathology to a
preferred pathology
provider
Difficulty in recruitment
to of a suitably skilled
project officer
4 likely
4 Major
High
3 possible
4 Major
High
4 likely
4 Major
High
Agreed process by the
three ICS around web
conferencing and the
referral pathways
2 unlikely
2 Low
low
Project
Management/resources
ICS partnership
Offer to participate in
publication of project
outcomes
Investment in
comprehensive
technological support at
the outset of the project
to instil confident in
technology requirements
Prior consultation with IT
specialists at each site in
relation to firewall
limitations etc
Early consultation and
identification of potential
benefits to the clinicians
and improved patient
outcomes
Develop a number of
recruitment strategies
and models to ensure the
project meets agreed
time frames
Processes and patients
pathways developed in
consultation with the
stakeholders
11
EVALUATION PLAN
The evaluation will detail processes, impact and outcomes for each component and an overall
utility evaluation of the project. The Evaluation of clinical networks is problematic but proposed
methodology will include Program Logic Methodology (measuring successful development of
systems, successful development of project outputs documents including named participants in
pathology expert panel, terms of reference (TOR), named MDT meetings, TORS of existing MDT
meetings modified to include tasks required for participation on this project, documented
referral pathways, communication outputs, report, external evaluation).
The success of the project will be also evaluated by collecting a number of quantitative
measures (see table below)
Objective
Measure
Developing a system for routine review of all
cases of suspected renal and testes cancer
that will support and link regional
pathologists with state-wide expert
pathologists

Terms of reference/standard operating
procedures


Named participants in expert panel
The proportion of renal and testicular
cancers diagnosed in Hume RICS, NEMICS
and WCMICS that are evaluated by a
member of the state-wide panel
(compared against volume of cases
according to state registry data)
Development of system for facilitating
transfer of specimens to expert panel
Named multidisciplinary team meetings
Modification of the Terms of Reference of
existing multidisciplinary team meetings
to include the tasks required for
participation in this project


Successful development of project outputs
documents

Documented referral pathways

Communication outputs


Completion of final report
Conduct of external evaluation
Develop processes that are suitable to
participating clinicians and consumers
Measuring the satisfaction scores (by survey
and interview) of regional pathologists,
private pathologists expert panel, MDT
meeting participants and the consumer
advisors
Appropriate Governance arrangements in
place to support Metro -Rural partnership
Governance structure developed
Developing synaptic/standardised reporting
for these tumours, which will promote
referral to existing MDTs , promote referral
and recruitment to clinical trials and promote
referral of specimens to biobank (tissue
bank) collection of clinicopathological data
(ACCORD/BioGrid system)

Letter of intent between Hume RICS, NEMICS,
WCMICS Directors/sponsoring members of
behalf of partnering ICS


Synaptic report for renal and testicular
cancer
Report includes referral information to
existing credentialed MDTs
Report includes referral information to
possible clinical trials and referral for
tissue banking
The number of cases registered on renal
data base (ACCORD)
12
Reduced variation of care, improved care
coordination and improved outcomes for
patients with a low volume cancer



The proportion of samples of suspected
renal cancer that are determined not to be
malignant
Documented Referral pathways in place
from diagnosis to MDT
Documentation of number of cases that
vary from PMF/MDT meeting
recommendation
Enhancement of translational and clinical
research

The number of cases that are offered
enrolment on a clinical trial
The number of cases referred for tissue
banking
Utilisation and enhancement of existing ICS
resources and staff including MDT meeting
coordinators, MDTs and data systems


Named participants/processes
The number of cases presented at existing
MDTs
SUSTAINABILITY
Once a system is developed, sustainability will be achieved by utilising the existing resources
provided by ICS (meeting coordinators, MDT meetings, web conferencing systems), BioGrid,
biobank, and existing clinical trials units). Leadership and coordination will be continued by the
ICS managers and directors. In order to extend the model to other tumours, further ICS
resources or other resources may need to be identified. Involvement of the ICS staff who will be
responsible for the continuation of the program will be involved in the development of the
project from initiation.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
This project will utilise existing ICS human resources including ICS managers, directors,
network coordinators, data analysts and MDT meeting coordinators.
The project officer will be employed by Hume RICS (in consultation with WCMICS & NEMICS)
and report to the Hume RICS Manager, with a steering committee overseeing the project.
The Governance Group who will provide project sponsoring membership will be Dr Craig
Underhill (Hume RICS), Dr Joe McKendrick and (NEMICS) Prof Jeff Szer (WCMICS).
Expert input for this project will be provided by a number of Statewide clinical experts and
Organisations.
Membership of project steering committee will include representation from Hume RICS,
NEMICS, WCMICS, (ICS Directors and Managers) regional & Metro pathology providers (public &
private) and college of pathology, regional & Metro urologist, VCOG urology rep, biobank
representative, BioGrid representative and a consumer representative.
Together, the project staff will be required to posses the following skill set & experience in and
ability to:
 Develop and coordinate project content, develop key strategies including detailed project
plans, activities and timeframes
 Prepare key deliverables including reports required to meet the requirements of the
funding body – Victorian Department of Health, Cancer and Palliative Care Unit
 Seek input from steering group and others to develop solutions and meet project
outcomes
 Report to steering group on project progress and resource use
 Develop and implement a communication strategy that maintains a high level of
awareness amongst key stakeholders
 Liaise with, and develop relationships with, a range of stakeholders
 Facilitate key meetings and consultations
 The position criteria includes:
 Understanding of rural health issues
 Technical knowledge to facilitate problem solving involved in the project
Project staff will be flexible to work virtually and travel between sites within the three ICS’
13
PROJECT MANAGER & TEAM MEMBERS (including roles)
Project Manager:
Chris Packer (Manager Hume RICS)
Executive Sponsors:
Hume RICS - Dr Craig Underhill, NEMICS - Dr Joe McKendrick, WCMICS - Prof Jeff Szer
Project Team:
Hume RICS Project officer: Kylie Mamouney – appointed by Hume RICS
NEMICS (PET Project coordinator)
Border East Hume & West Network coordinators
Hume RICS MDT meeting Administrator & Cancer Resource Nurses
NEMICS & WCMICS service improvement facilitators
PROJECT ORGANISATION & CONTROL
Hume RICS will be the lead ICS for this project and will administer the funds.
A letter of intent will be put in place between Hume RICS, NEMICS and WCMICS
Project Lead – Dr Craig Underhill
Project Governance –
Project Exec sponsors Hume RICS-Dr Craig Underhill, NEMICS-Dr Joe McKendrick, WCMICS-Prof
Jeff Szer, Project steering committee, Project Manager, Project officer
Financial accountability
The funds will be allocated to HRICS (Goulburn Valley Health fund holder for Hume RICS).
Delegation to expend funds through Hume RICS Executive
Project funds to be allocated as approved by the project manager subject to Hume RICS
delegation.
Over sight provided by Hume RICS Governance Group
Formal Agreements will be developed between Hume RICS, NEMICS & WCMICS regarding
allocation of funds for difference in project officer FTE (0.2FTE and admin support to identified
metro pathology sites
Communication
The Exec sponsors will participate in the steering committee, and provide linkages between the
project staff and ICS governance group. As agreed by the steering committee Dr Underhill will
chair the steering group.
A Steering Group will oversee the project consisting of:
Directors and managers of Hume RICS, NEMICS and WCMICS, regional pathologist, regional
urologist, metropolitan urologist, college of pathologists representative, metro pathologist,
VCOG urology representatives, biobank representative, BioGrid representative, and consumer
representative.
The project team & ICS staff involved in this project will meet regularly with the steering group
chair and ICS managers to review progress against the work plan and coordinate efforts.
In addition to the formal progress reports detailed in Key Tasks, Deliverables and Timelines,
regular reports will be given to the ICS governance groups at their scheduled meetings.
14