For the sixth consecutive year, the Integrated Cancer Centre at Sydney Adventist Hospital has topped New South Wales (NSW) in the annual Outpatient Cancer Clinics Survey.

Each year, the Bureau of Health Information (BHI), in partnership with the Cancer Institute NSW, independently surveys patient experience of outpatient cancer care throughout NSW. This year 8,280 patients from 43 facilities — public and private — were surveyed.

The survey seeks to understand patients’ experiences with multiple aspects of their cancer care. Patients were asked to evaluate a range of their experiences including access to services, care planning, facilities, coordination of care, complications, follow-up, and support.

In the report, the Integrated Cancer Centre (ICC) at Sydney Adventist Hospital (known as “the San”) achieved the highest ranking, with 12 measures being significantly higher than the NSW results. This was the highest number for any facility in the survey. Some of these measures included: overall experience of care received; well-organized care; polite and courteous staff; comfort and cleanliness of facilities; and how well the health-care team worked together.

“This is fantastic and humbling feedback from our patients,” ICC clinical director Gavin Marx said. “Earning the top state ranking consistently year after year is a clear demonstration of our entire team’s unwavering dedication to providing the best possible care for those undergoing cancer treatment. It’s a privilege to collaborate with such an exceptional team whose primary focus and driving force is to enhance the quality of care for our patients.”

According to Marx, while the team members are very proud of the results, they are always striving to improve the patient experience during cancer treatment. “While it is great to know patients experience excellent cancer services here, we won’t rest on these results — each year we continue to look for ways that we can improve our services,” he said.

The ICC operates in partnership with Icon Cancer Centre Wahroonga, which offers radiation therapy treatment for all cancer types. Icon’s clinical director of radiation oncology, Andrew Fong, said the results of the BHI report are affirmation “we’re on the right track.”

“The multidisciplinary team approach to cancer treatment — all in the one location — offers convenience for patients and a concentration of expert clinicians and first-rate facilities,” Fong said. “It is a privilege to care for our patients and their families impacted by cancer. And it’s good to know that the measures we take every day to improve the lives of those we care for is making a positive difference — despite a very difficult time in their lives.”

Many factors contribute to Australia’s high rates of cancer, and the San has long been committed to not only the early diagnosis and cutting-edge treatment of disease, but also to prevention and research.

“The San’s purpose and mission is whole-person health,” CEO Brett Goods said. “And perhaps in no other area is this more important than in the area of cancer. We are very grateful to our superb team at the Integrated Cancer Centre.

“Receiving this recognition for the hospital’s cancer services just spurs us on to deliver even better outcomes for our patients and their families. Alongside the ICC, our cancer support services — as well as research — all contribute towards efforts to treat disease and promote survivorship and wellbeing for our community.”

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist Record.