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Brown KGM, McBride KE, Anderson T, Solomon MJ. Delivering complex surgical services: lessons learned from the evolution of a specialised pelvic exenteration centre. AUST HEALTH REV 2023; 47:735-740. [PMID: 38029447 DOI: 10.1071/ah23186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Pelvic exenteration (PE) is a potentially curative, ultra-radical surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced pelvic tumours, which involves surgical resection of multiple pelvic organs. Delivering such a complex low-volume, high-cost surgical program presents a number of unique health management challenges, and requires an organisation-wide approach involving both clinical and administrative teams. In contrast to the United Kingdom and France, where PE services have been historically decentralised, a centralised approach was developed early on in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) with referral of these complex patients to a small number of quaternary centres. The PE program at the authors' institution was established in 1994 and has since evolved into the highest volume PE centre in the ANZ region and the largest single institution experience globally. These achievements have required navigation of specific funding and management issues, supported from inception by a proactive and collaborative relationship with hospital administration and management. The comprehensive state-wide quaternary referral model that has been developed has subsequently been successfully applied to other complex surgical services at the authors' institution, as well as by more recently established PE centres in Australia. This article aims to summarise the authors' experience with establishing and expanding this service and the lessons learned from a health management perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian G M Brown
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Institute of Academic Surgery (IAS), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kate E McBride
- Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Institute of Academic Surgery (IAS), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Teresa Anderson
- Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Institute of Academic Surgery (IAS), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael J Solomon
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Institute of Academic Surgery (IAS), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; and Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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