With increases in cancer survival rates, over 1 million Australians are living with cancer and require ongoing follow-up care after treatment. Shared care follow-up models which incorporate a multi-disciplinary team can improve the patient experience and health outcomes. Despite recognition of the benefits, these models have not been implemented consistently. Little is known about where shared care services are being delivered, the roles of the healthcare providers involved, and the subsequent outcomes.

This issues brief highlights the gaps in knowledge relating to the implementation of shared care cancer follow-up models in Australia. It focuses on some of the key considerations for implementing shared care including the need to collect primary care data and link this to patient health outcomes data; mapping of the health care workforce involved in delivery to identify gaps in services; and developing national clinical governance frameworks that enable continued monitoring and quality improvement.