In this issue
- What is Breast Cancer?
- Recommendations on Breast Cancer Screening
- Initiatives by Teams
- Resources and Research
- Support Services for Patients and Caregivers
- Upcoming QI Events
- Other Resources
What is Breast Cancer?
- Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast and be described in two ways1:
- Invasive: breast cancers that grow past the walls of the milk duct and into the surrounding tissues1
- Non-Invasive: breast cancers that remains contained within the walls of the milk duct1
Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening
- Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends:
- The Task Force recommends against screening women aged 40 to 49 years old
- The Task Force recommends in favour of screening women aged 50 to 74 years with mammography every 2-3 years
- HQO recommends magnetic resonance imaging as an adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in women at less than high risk for breast cancer
- HQO recommends ultrasound as an adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening
Initiatives by Teams
Our teams are doing some great work with breast cancer screening. Below are some initiatives that your team can implement if you’re looking to enhance cancer screening.
- Quarterly Reconciliation between the EMR and SAR reports
- EMR queries to search for patients overdue for their screening
- With EMRs teams are also documenting whether breast cancer screening was offered and if the patient declined
- Using flags within EMRs generated via queries
- Broadcasting a message via HealthMyself or OCEAN to patients
- Integrating cancer screening promotion into flu shot clinics while patients wait for 10-15 minutes post immunizations
Resources and Research
- Contact eHealth Centre of Excellence for a preventative care toolbar for the Telus PS EMR designed to help identify and flag patients who are due for preventative care screening, created by East Wellington FHT
- Diagnostic Assessment Program Referral Forms for your local region can be used to refer patients for diagnostic assessment programs
- Some patients may be at high risk for breast cancer for whom a OBSP High Risk Form Requisition has to be filled out to refer to the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program
- Other general provider resources can be found on the Cancer Care Ontario website
- Family physicians can sign up for Screening Activity Report (SAR) which provides screening data for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers
- Primary Care Quality Improvement Toolkits are a resource for primary care providers to help plan, implement, monitor and report cancer screening quality improvement projects
- Gene Expression Profiling Tests for Early Stage Invasive Breast Cancer is a topic by HQO open for feedback until October 14, 2019
- Toolkit for health care professionals: Improving cancer screening rates in your practice and reducing related disparities – A practical toolkit to help primary care providers to improve cancer screening rates in their practices and reduce related disparities, based on Dr. Aisha Lofters’ and Dr.Tara Kiran’s research and findings from the literature.
Support Services for Patients and Caregivers
- Ontario Breast Screening Program Locations allow for patients to have access to screening sites without a doctor or NP’s referral
- Regional Cancer Centres in Ontario provide cancer prevention, screening, diagnostic, treatment and related services within each LHIN
- Patients, caregivers and health care providers can use the Community Services Locator to find the appropriate services they may need
- Additional supports are available for patients such as a peer match program, community-based support groups and an online community
- Additional Screening Resources for the Public can be found on the Cancer Care Ontario website
Upcoming QI Events:
- Timely and Efficient Transitions Webinar Series: Improving access during transitions – Oct 9, 2019
- Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care – Nov 16, 2019
- North American Primary Care Research Group Conference – Nov 16-20, 2019
- Foundations to QI (IDEAS) – Community Mental Health and Addictions – Nov 18, 2019
- Opioid Use Disorders in Primary Care Conference 2019 – Nov 22, 2019
Other Resources:
- The eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) is committed to supporting the OHTs throughout the application and selection process. To understand exactly how the eCE can support OHTs with the digital health components outlined in the full application, read eCE’s Role in the Full OHT Application.
- Speak to a drug information pharmacist for any questions about opioid tapering, switching, interactions and withdrawal through the Opioid Prescribing Hotline.
References
- Breast Cancer. (2019, June 11). Retrieved from https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer .
In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #90 or other back issues here!
Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.