Cancer information systems update
Tuesday December 20, 2011
The following information, reproduced with the permission of the Ministry of Health, provides an update on developments relating to the collection of core cancer data and to a broader National View of Cancer project:
Better cancer data is a step closer with new standards setting out how information should be defined, collected and shared nationwide. Steve Creed, Principal Technical Specialist (Cancer), Ministry of Health, says the core cancer standards (http://www.ithealthboard.health.nz/content/national-cancer-core-data) are a significant step toward a National View of Cancer which aims to give those in the sector access to vital information on cancer incidence, treatment and outcomes at their fingertips and in one place.
The standards allow data to be collected in a consistent way and shared between systems and regions across the country. They are currently being piloted by the Southern Cancer Network with its new regional clinical cancer data repository – METRIQ. METRIQ captures radiation and medical oncology data from the three South Island cancer centres, including St George’s private hospital. This is a first for New Zealand and Steve Creed says the success of METRIQ will be watched closely to see whether it is suitable for use in other regions.
As part of the National View of Cancer project, the Ministry of Health has engaged a business analyst to speak with people about what they want and need from a National View. This follows an analysis of the current state and planned future state of cancer systems in New Zealand. This analysis can be viewed on the Ministry’s website from December.
Steve Creed says input from the sector will inform the design of the system which will integrate all major sources of cancer data, starting with the National Collections and evolving as other sources of information become available (e.g., regional repositories).
Design will be finalised during 2012, and subject to funding, the project will deliver a National View of Cancer by the end of 2013.
Source:
Ministry of Health. Cancer Connections, Summer 2011/12
