RACP - Project Design >> Designing the key features of your project >> b. Defining your project's scope

Project Design >> Designing the key features of your project

b. Defining your project's scope

The project�s scope is defined by the breadth of the care system in which the project will be implemented.

A care system refers to the organisational structures and processes through which care is provided to the chosen patient group.

A care system can be defined as widely or narrowly as you choose. For example, it can:

be tightly confined within a set geographical space in which all patients in the chosen cohort are cared for, e.g. a ward or unit or emergency department; or
span multiple settings, e.g. the entire patient transition from initial presentation to emergency through to hospital discharge and subsequent care in the community; or
span multiple episodes of care. In the case of cancer, for example, it could encompass surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Decisions about project scope will have practical implications on such things as who needs to be involved in the project and the data collection processes you develop.

A narrowly-defined scope might appear attractive because it is easier to manage. However, there are often major benefits for patient care from better-practice projects which involve collaboration beyond your immediate work setting.

For further information, see also: Understand your care system

A sample of outcomes involving collaboration

"Collaboration between surgeons and oncologists on the implementation of NH&MRC Guidelines for the Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer resulted in a Pathology Proforma for surgeons to capture all relevant information necessary for pathologists to accurately 'stage the patient'. Best practice in treating Colorectal Cancer depends an accurate staging as indications for adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy are dependent upon the stage of the tumour. Inaccurate staging may result in under-treatment or over-treatment."

Austin Bowel Cancer Consortium

"The Towards a Safer Culture project enabled us to develop pathways for chest pain and stroke in a truly collaborative fashion with in-patient teams. These start at the triage desk and not at the point of diagnosis."

Senior Emergency Physician, Towards a Safer Culture

"Collaboration between clinicians in the acute sector and general practice on the implementation of clinical guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes and congestive heart failure resulted in improved and sustained adoption of key, evidence-based therapies and modification of risk factors up to 6 months after hospital discharge, combined with lower rates of death."

Brisbane Cardiac Consortium's Executive Summary