About CCC House
About CCC House
The National Cancer Institute, Maharagama (NCI) in Sri Lanka is the only tertiary referral centre dedicated to treatment of all types of cancer in the country. It was established in 1958 with less than 10 medical officers. Presently, the specialist medical consultant team consists of eight medical oncologists, two surgeons, one gynaecologist, anaesthetist, haematologist, pathologist, microbiologist, radiologist, physician and paediatrician. Furthermore, over 80 medical officers assist the consultants to manage the relevant departments.
Each year, the number of patients seeking treatment for various types of cancer has increased. At present there are 50 inpatients and approximately 500 outpatient daily. The bed strength of the hospital is 600 and is insufficient to provide a bed for all resident patients.
Background
With the current number of in and outpatients at the NCI, the wards are overcrowded with many floor patients. Sadly, this has resulted in inferior quality of care with all categories of services (accommodation, meals, medical and sanitary) provided to the patients being under severe stress. Under these circumstances, the medical and the nursing staff cannot execute their functions to sustain a good quality of care to the patient. The overcrowding poses a risk especially to the severely sick, as sustained monitoring, observation and vigilance cannot be guaranteed for these patients.
The practice of modern medicine has changed the way in which diseases are managed where inpatient facilities are provided for the neediest patients, and outpatients are managed in an environment integrated with hospital and home care.
Justification
Many cancer treatment methods like radiotherapy and chemotherapy can now be administered on an outpatient basis where patients visit the hospital from their homes on a daily basis. Due to NCI’s centralised location it is difficult to cater for a large number of outpatients on a daily basis as patients come from all parts of the country to receive treatment. The majority of patients are forced to reside in the hospital for their treatment due to a lack of lodging facilities available close by. Furthermore as cancer patients are immune-compromised, they are vulnerable to hospital acquired diseases.
This issue has demanded the need for establishing a transit home (CCC House) to accommodate these cancer outpatients and their carers. A transit home is a novel concept adapted in many modern cancer hospitals around the world.
The transit home care is defined as an integrated service with a dual function of hospital care and home care. This is essentially reserved for patients who require outpatient treatment. They do not need intensive supervision, however patients should have quick access to medical care when required. This type of accommodation is ideal for patients undergoing radiotherapy.
The CCC House will have capacity for 140 outpatients and 30 carers, and in turn will reduce the number of outpatients who are currently in the hospital wards. The CCC House will not only provide a comfortable bed for patients forced to sleep in corridors of the hospital (floor patients), but will also allow the medical staff to focus on the newly admitted and critically ill patients. The CCC House will therefore improve the overall well-being and care given to inpatients as well as outpatients. Additionally the carers of 30 outpatient children will also have a comfortable bed and a place to rest.
The CCC House will aim to improve the psychosocial environment for the outpatient as well as the carers making recovery more ideal in a homely environment. The family and relatives will have easier access to the outpatients at the transit home, which will reduce the overall visitor traffic in the hospital wards. The reduction of visitor traffic in the hospital may also help to reduce the chances of immune-compromised patients being subject to general illnesses.
The transit home will be funded by the CCC Foundation Inc., a not-for-profit charitable organisation based in Australia and Sri Lanka. The ongoing maintenance costs will also be funded through private donations and sponsorships and hence freeing up government funds to focus on medical treatment and facilities at the hospital.
Admission
Admission to the CCC House
The admissions will predominantly befor underprivileged outpatients and their carers. It will be for patients living far from the Maharagama hospital cannot travel due to their condition or for financial reasons. Criteria for admission will be determined by a Management Committee consisting of members of the CCC Foundation Committee and NCI staff.
Medication and treatment
The NCI Maharagama will hold full responsibility for providing medical and emergency treatment to the outpatients at the transit home if required. This will include medical staff, medications and associated services. An experienced house warden will be residing in the transit home providing 24 hour service. The warden will act as a link between the transit home and the hospital.
Projects
CCC House ongoing management and maintenance
The CCC House once constructed will be handed over to the NCI, Maharagama. A management committee consisting of members of the CCC Foundation committee, NCI administration and a medical team will be formed to address the ongoing management and maintenance of the transit home. The management committee will develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure all requirements for the running and maintenance of the transit home is addressed. Outpatient admission, meals provision, sanitary requirements, supervision, contractor management, and building maintenance will have a SOP and be managed by the committee.
CCC Foundation will set up a CCC House trust fund to ensure ongoing funding for the upkeep of the CCC House. The CCC House sponsors of rooms, cubicles and general areas will be given an opportunity to support the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of their sponsored areas.
Funding & Accountability
The CCC Foundation will be fully accountable for the CCC House project. The project will be totally funded by the CCC Foundation through donations and sponsorships from individuals and companies. The CCC Foundation will provide the opportunity for individuals and companies to sponsor parts of the project with more details set out in the attached pledge form. The cost of the project is LKR130 million and will be completed in two phases (Phase 01 – LKR70 million and Phase 02 – LKR60 million).
The CCC Committee will appoint a project architect and will work in collaboration with NCI Maharagama to ensure all building and outpatient requirements are adhered to. The project will be tendered out to at least four reputable construction companies. The CCC Committee has appointed Ernst & Young as their auditor to ensure all funds and processes are managed to the highest requirement and that there is transparency to all CCC Foundation stakeholders.
Project timing Project timing
The CCC House is an immediate requirement for the NCI to ensure it provides the best possible facilities and treatment to its patients. The following schedule is an estimated summary of the timing for the various steps in the preparation and construction of the CCC House.
