Rapid access Breast Health Centre offers “one-stop” coordinated care, reduced wait time and improved outcomes for women.
“Numb and dumb.” Decisive words used by one woman to describe her journey through diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. This first-hand account is one of many captured by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Chapter in its recent research initiative, Toward Kinder Care: Tracing Women’s Experience with Breast Cancer; a grim portrayal the staff and physicians at Markham Stouffville Hospital aim to eradicate for women who come face-to-face with the disease.
The new rapid access Breast Health Centre, located at the Markham Site, represents a patient-centred care model and offers the latest in diagnostic, assessment and treatment capabilities. With an enhanced patient experience framing each facet of development, the Centre will deliver “one-stop” coordinated care in a physical setting built for optimum comfort and privacy. Improving upon earlier models in place at other hospitals and drawing from expertise throughout North America, the fully digital Centre will serve as a single point of entry for women across York and Durham regions while reducing patient wait times by a minimum of 50%.
“Our goal is to improve timelines by expediting the initial referral process from diagnosis through to surgical treatment and coordinated medical therapies,” states Dr. Carlos De Sequeira, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging. “By employing the most advanced screening tools, such as digital mammography and stereotactic biopsy, in a setting supported by radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, mammography technologists, dedicated ultrasound technologists, a nurse navigator and laboratory technologists, we will streamline the process significantly.”
The concept, developed in partnership by members of the Hospital’s Surgical System, Diagnostic Imaging Department, Pathology Department and medical staff, calls for family physicians to refer all patients with suspected breast disease directly to the Centre. This process will eliminate delays that occur due to uncoordinated patient care and help family practitioners access timely care for all of their patients, regardless of the stage of disease. “We are optimistic that this will shave days to weeks off the total time from ‘decision to investigate’ to treatment,” says Terri Stuart-McEwan, Director, Surgical System, “and it will alleviate some of the anxiety experienced by patients who are left worried and waiting.”
Designed to deliver a seamless patient-focused experience with direction from the surgeon, a woman will undergo a consultation and complete testing during her first visit to the Breast Health Centre. “Those patients who require a biopsy will return in one week to review test results and if necessary, schedule surgery,” explains General Surgeon, Dr. Crystal Pallister. “At this time, the surgeon and the patient will establish a comprehensive plan of care.” The nurse navigator will then work with the patient to coordinate access to education services and when required, arrange additional radiation or chemotherapy consultations with members of the inter-disciplinary team.
The Hospital acquired a Lorad Selenia digital mammography unit earlier this year; equipment that will improve productivity at the Breast Health Centre due to a faster screening procedure and real time access to images. More importantly, “the move from analogue to digital mammography will reduce radiation exposure by 25 to 40% and increase our sensitivity for detection,” comments Dr. Chris Stephen, Radiologist. “This modality is especially effective for detecting disease in women with dense breast tissue who are pre-menopausal and under 50 years old.”
In addition, the introduction of stereotactic biopsy using the Lorad multi-care table and vacuum assisted breast biopsy technique will allow the radiologist to remove tissue samples quickly and painlessly through the smallest possible needle. “This least invasive procedure increases the radiologist’s confidence in accurately targeting and acquiring tissue to send to pathology, enabling the Breast Health Centre to provide the surgeon with a histopathology report within 72 hours,” states Lynne Campkin, Director, Diagnostic and Respiratory Services.
The health care team is eager to facilitate an estimated 1,400 visits to the Centre this year. Building on this and other benchmarks, the model will inform future planning for similar clinics to diagnose, assess and treat prostate and colon cancer at Markham Stouffville Hospital Corporation.
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
