title: Developing and evaluating Robocare; an innovative, nurse-led robotic prostatectomy care pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A Robotic Prostatectomy Care Pathway ("Robocare"), aiming to prepare men for robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and manage side-effects and long-term follow-up in a multidisciplinary fashion was established. The pathway enhances patient care by providing adequate information and support and optimizes efficiency by reducing length of stay and minimizing hospital visits. Our study assesses the pathway for patient satisfaction, co-ordination of care between disciplines, length of stay and readmission rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed our database of all patients undergoing RARP with Robocare between July 2012 and December 2013 at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia (PMCC). Compliance, Length of Stay and Postoperative Course were analysed. Patient satisfaction was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 124 patients underwent RARP with 105 (85%) being discharged day 1 post-op (mean 1.3 days). Post-operative support phone calls were received by >95% of patients. Thereafter, 74 patients (60%) were followed in the long-term follow-up phone clinic. Twenty-nine complications were identified of which 19 (66%) were resolved by the nurse specialist. Eighteen patients had psychologist, 44 sexual health and 44 physiotherapist referral. Patient satisfaction in 74 (60%) returned surveys revealed 71 (96%) being well/very well supported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Robocare pathway is safe with high patient satisfaction. It contributes to reducing post-operative length of stay and readmission rates as well as the outpatient follow-up. A true multidisciplinary approach that is nurse-led likely improves care and outcomes for RARP patients and may lower impact on hospital resources.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: emma.birch@petermac.org.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Siska
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Bruwaene
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Everaerts
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schubach
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Matiu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnasamy
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goad
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lawrentschuk
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Univeristy of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Declan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Nurse-led intervention; Patient experience; Phone clinic; Prostate cancer; Robotic prostatectomy