Screening Policy
Code: C6.4-5
Date: 18/06/2014
Purpose:
To ensure clients are offered appropriate screening
To provide a suitable framework for recall of clients for screening
To codify policy for the development of screening
Responsible Staff:
Implementation: Senior Practice Nurse
Action: Clinical Staff
Audit: Senior Practice Nurse
Audit:
Code | Cycle (months) | Criterion | Standard |
C6.4-5.1 | 12 | Opportunistic screening modalities have been discussed at a practice meeting within the last 12 months | YES |
C6.4-5.2 | 12 | The outcome and effectiveness of all National Screening Programmes has been audited and fed back to the practice in the last 12 months | YES |
C6.4-5.2 | 12 | The outcome and effectiveness of any Local Screening Programmes has been audited and fed back to the practice in the last 12 months | YES |
C6.4-5.2 | 12 | The quality of records have been audited according to the locally agreed schedule (Screening Audit Schedule) | YES |
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Training Resources:
Linked Policies:
Recall Policy
Enabling Resources:
Policy:
The Senior Practice Nurse shall be responsible for the efficient management and co-ordination of national screening programmes, including:
Cervical Screening
Mammography
- B4 School Checks
Where a screening method that is not administered at national level becomes available, it may be included in the practice screening in the same way as national programmes.
Each locally determined screening methodology shall be recorded on the Locally Developed Screening Pro-Forma and shall be approved at a practice meeting before implementation.
Any locally developed screening methodology must comply with the World Health Organisation Guidelines on Screening:
1. The condition should be an important health problem.
2. There should be a treatment for the condition.
3. Facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available.
4. There should be a latent stage of the disease.
5. There should be a test or examination for the condition.
6. The test should be acceptable to the population.
7. The natural history of the disease should be adequately understood.
8. There should be an agreed policy on who to treat.
9. The total cost of finding a case should be economically balanced in relation to medical expenditure as a whole.
Case-finding should be a continuous process, not just a "once and for all" project.
Implementation of Screening:
Both local and national screening programmes will have an agreed target population and a recall cycle.
Not all screening is scheduled. Clinical staff must exercise their professional judgement when considering opportunistic screening. The Clinical Director may be contacted for advice if required.
Various national guidelines are available and where possible, these should be followed.
Identification of candidates for screening requires high quality clinical data and entry of the same into the electronic record system. There are a number of opportunities for collection of data including:
Opportunistic data gathering (eg during consultations and at enrolment)
Planned review
- Specific recall for measurement.
Clinical staff must make every effort to keep clinical data current and to record data as screening items or appropriate classifications wherever possible.
Where a need for data acquisition is identified, the Senior Practice Nurse and Clinical Director shall be responsible for developing an appropriate acquisition method.
Recalls:
The PMS recall system is an ideal way to ensure that clients are reminded about screening opportunities
The use of recalls is covered in the recall policy.