Quality
Quality Assurance
Continuous quality improvement is an integral part of the BreastScreen Queensland Program, and will be incorporated in all aspects of the screening and assessment pathway.
The BreastScreen Queensland Program works towards best practice in all aspects of the Program through a range of continuous quality improvement strategies including monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance processes and programs, and staff training. At the same time, BreastScreen Queensland seeks to maintain or exceed the minimum standards and requirements as outlined in the BreastScreen Australia National Accreditation Standards and the approved standards contained within Program policies and protocols.
Asymptomatic women who are eligible to access the BreastScreen Queensland Program
To assist general practitioners in achieving quality health outcomes in population screening for breast cancer, BreastScreen Queensland provides:
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re-screen invitation and reminder letters
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written notification of screening and assessment results to nominated general practitioners for continuity of care and referral for further treatment if required
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clinical staff who liaise with general practitioners regarding results and follow up care
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staff who can provide information sessions and promotional resources
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opportunities for general practitioners to undertake continuing medical education.
For symptomatic women
The Investigation of a New Breast Symptom: A Guide for General Practitioners has been developed by the National Breast Cancer Centre and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to maximise the effectiveness of investigation of women who present to their general practitioner seeking medical advice with a new breast symptom.
For women with a diagnosis of breast cancer
General practitioners may contribute to quality health outcomes for women with a diagnosis of early or advanced breast cancer as outlined in the following clinical practice guidelines available from the National Breast Cancer Centre.
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Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Advanced Breast Cancer
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Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Early Breast Cancer
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The Management of the Woman with Metastatic Breast Cancer. A Guide for GPs
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Psychosocial Clinical Practice Guidelines: Providing Information, Support and Counselling to Women with Breast Cancer.
Quality Management System
To ensure the Queensland Health BreastScreen Queensland Program achieves the best possible outcome for women in the community, while ensuring the best overall benefit to the community, the Program operates within a comprehensive and continuous Quality Management System that is client focused. The structure of the quality management system has been established to provide specialist expert advice to the Program on quality and to monitor the ongoing quality of the Program.
To ensure a high level of clinical competence and adherence to best practice standards, a state policy and protocol manual, technical quality assurance program and radiology and radiography quality assurance training programs are in operation.
National Accreditation Standards
The performance of the Queensland Health BreastScreen Queensland Program is measured against National Accreditation Standards which cover all aspects of the Program including recruitment, screening and assessment, follow-up of women with diagnosed breast cancer, technical quality assurance, education and counselling, and consumer satisfaction.
Performance standards describe the qualities required for particular breast cancer screening activities and minimise recall rates, invasive procedures, 'false negatives' and 'false positives' and anxiety for clients, whilst maximising the number of cancers detected (especially the number of small cancers).
Some minimum standards for Key Performance Indicators include:
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Participation rate of 70 per cent for target age group (50 to 69 years)
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All women screened are asked to nominate a general practitioner to whom their results will be forwarded
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>= 50 invasive cancers per 10,000 women screened aged 50 to 69 should be detected at the first screening round
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>= 35 invasive cancers per 10,000 women screened aged 50 to 69 should be detected for subsequent screening rounds
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>= 25 per 10,000 women screened aged 50 to 69 should be found to have invasive cancers at a size of 15mm or less
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< 6.5 per 10,000 women screened aged 50 to 69 develop invasive breast cancer in the 12 months following screening.
For BreastScreen Queensland, refer to the key results page.
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