- Patients
- Patient Support
- Integrative Cancer Care
- Early-stage breast bundle pilot
Breast Bundle pilot
GenesisCare has been piloting a Breast Bundle initiative in Perth, WA for early-stage breast cancer.
The Breast Bundle initiative
In 2021, GenesisCare — in collaboration with breast surgeons from Perth Specialist Breast Care at St John of God Hospital Subiaco, the University of Technology Sydney, Medibank, and HBF — launched a pilot study of a Breast Bundle package in Perth, WA, for early-stage breast cancer patients. The package was created to explore the impact of bundling services with patient navigation in early-stage breast cancer care. The design of the study was a collaborative effort between GenesisCare, Perth Specialist Breast Care surgeons, the University of Technology Sydney, and the University of Western Australia.
Recruitment to the Breast Bundle pilot closed in April 2025, with evaluation to be completed in 2026.
About the Bundle
GenesisCare partnered with specialists, allied health professionals, and private health insurance providers to design a 12-month package of services that included high-quality, personalised care from diagnosis through to post-treatment.
The Bundle was available to eligible women or men who:
- had breast surgery with a participating Bundle surgeon
- were diagnosed with early-stage (non-metastatic) breast cancer
- were HBF or Medibank insurance members with hospital cover (bronze level or higher).
A key feature of the Bundle was the inclusion of a patient navigator — a dedicated professional who supported patients throughout their treatment journey. The navigator helped manage appointments, provided guidance through the treatment pathway, offered transparency around estimated out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, facilitated access to allied health services at optimal points, and served as a single point of contact to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Independent program evaluation
As part of the creation of the Bundle, GenesisCare and the University of Technology Sydney designed and implemented an independent evaluation to determine whether the program objectives were being achieved.
An interim evaluation of the Breast Bundle was completed in 2024, with early results indicating1:
- Patients found the costs and coverage easy to understand, highlighting the Bundle’s success in achieving financial transparency
- Patients experienced their care as seamless and well-integrated
- inclusion of allied health services — particularly clinical psychology — improved access to supportive care for patients who may not have otherwise sought it.
The navigator role is meeting its objective to reduce stress and enhance the overall care experience. Patients particularly valued the navigator’s support in coordinating appointments and providing clear information about the treatment pathway.
The final evaluation report is expected to be delivered in 2026.
Interim results and findingsThe design of the Breast Bundle project was presented by our collaborators from the University of Western Australia (UWA) at the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement in October 2024. In November 2024, the interim results were also presented at the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting. Download presentations Designing a bundle of care package for patients with early-stage breast cancer. (October 2024). International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Conference. Bundling and patient navigation in early-stage breast cancer care: Interim findings. (November 2024). Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting. |
Awards and Recognition
In 2023, the early-stage Breast Cancer Bundle pilot was recognised by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) with the Value-Based Health Care Innovation Award. Sponsored by Telstra Health, this award recognises projects that are either significantly innovative in their early development or established programs demonstrating strong outcomes.
What's next?
Following results of the interim evaluation, demonstrating the value of the patient navigator we are developing a Breast Cancer Patient Navigator Program, expected to launch in 2026.
The expanded program will continue to deliver high-quality, supportive care to women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, whilst also collecting valuable data to further demonstrate the benefits of patient navigation.
- Zissiadis, Y., Ballal, H., Forsyth, N., Ives, A., Jackson, L., Montgomery, A., Wise, S., Yeow, W. & Saunders, C. (2024) Designing and implementing a bundle of care for patients with early-stage breast cancer: lessons from a pilot program. Australian Health Review 48, 142-147.
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