PMH teams and the ASaP update

The Alberta Screening and Prevention (ASaP) 2022 update expanded the recommended biennial mammography age range for average-risk women to 45 – 74 from 50 – 74.

Effective Jan. 1, PMH teams are using the new age range for reporting and will discuss the change, its impact on projects, and how to prioritize patients based on physician input in their next PMH meeting with affected members.

Mammography was the only ASaP maneuver criteria change. It now aligns with the latest Clinical Practice Guidelines for breast cancer screening in Alberta.

AHS projects about 12,000 more mammograms could be performed each year for women aged 45 – 49 based on current screening rates.

Enhanced and Comprehensive members can bundle any additional screening and prevention work they choose into their existing screening projects with their PMH team or initiate a new screening project.

In 2021-22, PMH teams supported 211 members to do screening within their patient population.

PMH team screening support:

• Health Information Coordinators can identify patients due for screening for planned outreach or flag them in the EMR for opportunistic referrals during an appointment.
• Patient Care Coordinators can conduct the planned outreach and coordinate appointments.
• Primary Care Registered Nurses can educate hesitant patients about the importance of preventative screening.