Multidisciplinary Care Guidelines

The Multidisciplinary Care Guidelines for Women with Breast Disease is primarily a package developed for Health Care Professionals and women with breast cancer. This package was developed as part of the Loddon Mallee Breast Services Enhancement Project and describes best practice standards.

The package has been designed to assist health care professionals in providing coordinated, multidisciplinary care to women with breast disease. The package has a number of uses:

• for the rural GP and clinician who may not see many women with breast cancer - provides guidance on diagnostic and appropriate treatment options, referral options and how to best provide psychosocial support
• for the rural nurse and other allied health carers involved in the care of a woman with breast cancer - provides guidance to the different clinical pathways, referral options and how to best provide psychosocial support
• for the woman with breast cancer - describes what you can expect during your stay in hospital and immediately afterwards

We have referred to this package at the appropriate points in our website.

You can download, read and print the various parts of this package, however you will need the appropriate software tool to do this. The files are provided in PDF form; if you find the necessary software is not already installed on your computer go to Adobe Reader to download it (for free!).

Downloading the PDF files on to your computer can take time, please be patient. The different parts of the package are described below - click on a title to download it.

How To Use This Package	Provides an overview of How to Use This Package
Care Planning For Management Of Breast Disease In Women	Care Pathway for Management Of Breast Disease In Women (an overview of recommended interventions by the healthcare professional to achieve quality patient outcomes). The Role Of The GP In The Provision Of Care For Women With Breast Disease (a guide for GPs in care planning and case conferencing).
Clinical Pathways	Use Of The Clinical Pathways For Breast Surgery(describes how the clinical pathways can assist in achieving quality patient outcomes). Clinical Pathway For Breast Surgery: Day Procedure (for use by the multidisciplinary care team during the diagnostic phase). Patient Care Pathway For Breast Surgery: Day Procedure (for the woman as part of her preoperative preparation for a diagnostic procedure). Clinical Pathway For Breast Surgery: Conserving Treatment & Major Procedures (for use by the multidisciplinary care team during the acute treatment phase. Included is a variance form which allows for review by the healthcare professional to maintain a continuous quality improvement cycle). Patient Care Pathway for Breast Surgery (for the woman as part of her preoperative preparation for her breast surgery).
Patient Information Brochure	Making decisions about treatment: A guide for women with breast cancer
Psychosocial Guidelines for Women with Breast Disease	Psychosocial Guidelines for Women with Breast Disease - A Reference Booklet for Health Care Professionals (for use by the multidisciplinary care team, offering guidance on best practice in supporting and interacting with the woman with breast cancer). . Introduction & Background . Evidence: Best Practice for Any Consultation . Best Practice for Any Consultation (to be used with Consultation sections below) . Consultation: Diagnosis . Consultation: Prognosis . Consultation: Treatment Options . Preparation for Treatment . Providing Psychological Care, Support & Counselling . Practical Needs & Social Issues . Dealing with Cultural Issues . Providing Support in Palliative Care . Ensuring Continuity of Care . Referral Guide (for Women with Psychological Needs) . Regional Referral Index (Key contacts for General Information & Support; Psychosocial Support & Counselling Services; Treatment Services / Prosthetic Supplies / Interpreting Services / Self Help Groups)

Acknowledgements

The development of this package was made possible through funding received from Victorian Department of Human Services and Breast Care Victoria for the Loddon Mallee Region Breast Services Enhancement Project (LMR BSEP). A project team was delegated the task of developing this multidisciplinary breast care package, and it is through their vision, enthusiasm and determination that this was achieved.

The project team consisted of:

• Philippa Hartney: Project Manager
• Julie Harris: Project Officer
• Melissa Billings: Regional Breast Care Nurse Coordinator
• Bruce Tulloh: Clinical Coordinator
• Pam Quinn: Loddon Mallee DHS, Project Officer
• Jenni Ham: Project Consultant
• Maureen Sharpe: Secretarial support
• Loretto Morshead: Secretarial support

Sincere thanks are extended to members of the LMR BSEP Steering Committee and consumer representatives who have provided guidance and ongoing review of the contents of the package.

Also acknowledged is the help and support received from Cath Butler, Bendigo BreastScreen Information Consultant; Loddon Mallee Breast Care Nurses and Murray Plains Division of General Practitioners.

The information contained in the package has been obtained from a variety of sources and references. All non-original material has been referenced in individual sections of the package.

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