黑料吃瓜群网

[hr]It was in the late 1990s when medical professionals and the board of the Royal Prince Alfred鈥檚 Sydney Cancer Centre were inspired to establish a comprehensive
cancer facility. But, when project leader and leading cancer specialist Chris O鈥橞rien was himself diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2006, the task took on
new impetus. Australian 黑料吃瓜群网 and Healthcare Bulletin spoke with the Chris O鈥橞rien Lifehouse CEO Tim Dugan about the project, and how the vision for a patient-centred, world-class comprehensive cancer centre in Sydney became a reality. [hr]
The Lifehouse project is named after Chris O鈥橞rien, who听inspired people through his work and his own battle with听cancer. His vision was to build a facility that integrated clinical听care, research, education and integrative therapies. How has the hospital鈥檚 design incorporated this vision?
The vision of Chris O鈥橞rien, and his clinical colleagues, was to听build a truly comprehensive cancer centre, based on the model听that has been a success overseas in terms of improving quality听of care and outcomes for patients.
But Chris also wanted to create a new culture and model听of cancer care. Through his own personal experience as a听doctor turned patient, Chris saw the cancer journey from a听new perspective. The reality for many cancer patients is that听a diagnosis is followed by feelings of confusion and lack of听control as they, and their loved ones, try to navigate their way听through a complex series of appointments and treatments.
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by cancer听and a key part of the delivery on that ambitious aim is to put the听patient at the centre of everything we do.
So, enabling multidisciplinary care by bringing all the people听involved in cancer care under one roof and thinking about the听patient journey has influenced the design of every aspect of our听facility and our services.
We have thought constantly about making the cancer journey听as easy as it can be for our patients - from enabling medical,听research and support staff to work together and collaborate,听including specialists who will offer complementary therapies, to听design features of our building.
We have created a space where staff can work in a state-of-art听facility and where patients will feel safe and comfortable and able听to easily navigate around different areas of the facility. In fact,听from the light-filled atrium, you can actually look up and see the听nine storeys which incorporate our research and clinical areas.
Who have been the key personnel managing the Lifehouse听from an idea, to a project, and finally a world-class facility?
We began a decade ago with a dream of building a听comprehensive cancer centre. From a team that was initially听just a handful of people, the dream has been brought to life by听an incredible collective of thousands of individuals, in particular听the Board and staff of Chris O鈥橞rien Lifehouse, who have kept听going, even when the going was tough, and never lost sight of听the goal. The passion and commitment to making Lifehouse the听very best it can be for our patients is something that has been听shared by all involved.
We have been fortunate to have worked with some听incredible partners on this project, including architects听Rice Daubney, builders Brookfield Multiplex and project听managers Capital Insight.
It has been said this facility will transform cancer treatment for听Australians. How will this facility stand out from others?
Lifehouse will be an Australian centre of excellence and a key听component in a national strategy to deal with the burden of听cancer. Integrated cancer centres are recognised around the听world as the model that provides the best possible outcomes听for people living with cancer, as well as the most meaningful听advances in research and education.
We will incorporate all aspects of cancer care, including听diagnosis, treatment, emotional support research and听education - under one roof.
Our mission is to improve cancer treatment in an environment听that fosters innovation, discovery and increased participation听in clinical trials. We are located alongside Royal Prince听Alfred (RPA), a large teaching hospital and Sydney University听and will also collaborate with other research groups and听partners to establish a national resource for research,听treatment and wellness.
I am sure the work we carry out at Lifehouse will contribute听to improvements in cancer care that can be applied nationally.
Stage One of the project opened in November.听How was the transition of services managed?
With the opening of Stage 1 of Lifehouse in November,听certain services 鈥� including out-patient clinics for听chemotherapy, radiation oncology, medical imaging,听pathology, pharmacy and allied health 鈥� transitioned听from RPA鈥檚 Sydney Cancer Centre to Lifehouse.
[pullQuote]鈥淎s a registered charity,听Lifehouse relies on听fundraising to achieve the vision of world-class care听in a state-of-the-art facility,听providing equipment听and services over and听above those covered by听operational budgets.鈥澨齕/pullQuote]
We collaborated closely to ensure a smooth move for staff听and patients and to ensure the continuity of care for our听patients. This included planning for the move over a number听of years and detailed, specific change communications听with particular groups, such as staff and patients moving听from Sydney Cancer Centre to Lifehouse.
How will the new facility work with the听RPA鈥檚 existing capabilities?
We have worked closely with RPA throughout the planning and听development of the Lifehouse project.
We have agreed protocols for issues, such as transfer of听patients, which are included in the Service Delivery Agreement,听the legal document that sets out how Lifehouse will deliver听care, which was signed by Lifehouse, Sydney Local Health听District and the NSW Government in October.
Stage 2 of Lifehouse will see the opening of theatres, in-patient听beds and intensive care and high dependency beds in 2014/15.听Until then, some cancer patients will continue to receive听treatment at RPA and some will have a combination of care听from RPA and Lifehouse.
Can you tell us about the research听facilities that will be incorporated?
Medical research has always been at the heart of the Lifehouse听vision as an integrated cancer centre. Quite simply, research is听the key to improving care and outcomes for patients.
Prior to opening, we already had a long tradition of supporting听cancer research through partnering with institutes and funding听specific projects.
But now Lifehouse has opened, we have entered a new and听exciting chapter where we will be able to conduct research听ourselves, in our own facility and in partnership with others.
As well as the research centre on Level 6 at Lifehouse, trials will听also be conducted at the Centenary Institute 鈥� Chris O鈥橞rien听Lifehouse Cancer Research Centre. This will be housed in the听newly-built Charles Perkins Centre, adjacent to our Lifehouse.
The cost of this project has been mentioned as $260 million,听with government funding $180 million. How were the听remaining funds raised?
The build and fit-out of the facility has听been made possible by a combination听of Government funding, donations and听return on investments.
We received $180 million in Federal听Government funding, Sydney University听contributed $10 million and the NSW听government has provided long term听leases at nil cost of land and buildings听to Lifehouse. The final $70 million came听from Lifehouse via our fundraising听efforts, including major donations, a听Charitable Bond Investment scheme,听and investments.
Lifehouse has a unique funding听model. We are a not-for-profit听benevolent institution and will treat听public and private patients. We have听no shareholders and income will be听reinvested for the benefit of our patients.
[pullQuote]"Lifehouse will be an听Australian centre of听excellence and a key听component in a national听strategy to deal with听the burden of cancer.听Integrated cancer centres听are recognised around the听world as the model that听provides the best possible听outcomes for people听living with cancer, as well听as the most meaningful听advances in research and听education."听[/pullQuote]
As a registered charity, Lifehouse relies听on fundraising to achieve the vision of听world-class care in a state-of-the-art facility,听providing equipment and services over and听above those covered by operational budgets.
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What is the next stage听of the Lifehouse Project?
The work on the completion of Stage听2 of Lifehouse was already underway听before we saw our first patients. We are听excited about expanding our services听to include in-patient facilities for public听and private patients. Again, there has听been great attention to detail and a听focus on the patient experience in the听design planning of these services.
We are also looking forward to听expanding our complementary therapy听offering, through the Lifehouse听LivingRoom. The aim of the LivingRoom听is to provide patients and carers the听best possible support by offering听integrative medicine as part of the听overall package of cancer care and听by guiding patients towards treatments听with evidence-based benefits. We hope听to also be able to contribute to the听evidence base of using therapies,听such as acupuncture, massage and听exercise physiology, in combination听with orthodox cancer treatment.
[pullQuote]鈥淟ifehouse will be an听Australian centre of听excellence and a key听component in a national听strategy to deal with听the burden of cancer.听Integrated cancer centres听are recognised around the听world as the model that听provides the best possible听outcomes for people听living with cancer, as well听as the most meaningful听advances in research and听education.鈥澨齕/pullQuote]
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Timothy Dugan

Tim Dugan has more than 20 years鈥櫶齟xperience in health and research听management in both the commercial听and not-for-profit sectors.
He was appointed to the role of CEO听of Lifehouse in 2008.
Prior to joining Lifehouse, Tim听was Chief Operating Officer and听Company Secretary of the Victor听Chang Cardiac Research Institute,听a member of the Stakeholder Board听of the Australian Stem Cell Centre of听Excellence and Commercial Manager听of Mayne Nickless Radiology, NSW听and Queensland.
Tim is also a Director of two private听companies and was appointed to听the Board of Lifehouse in April 2009.
Tim has an MBA from the Melbourne听Business School (Melbourne听University), a Bachelor of Applied听Science from the Royal Melbourne听Institute of Technology and a听Graduate Diploma in Corporate听Governance.
He has overseen the development听of the Lifehouse facility through a听dynamic period of transition, from听the construction phase to opening,听and remains passionate about what听lies ahead for the organisation.
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