At 7:43 am +1100 8/3/07, Elizabeth Dodd wrote:
On Thursday 08 March 2007 07:20, David Guest wrote:
Except the test is performed without GP knowledge or participation. The
model that they are really after is a bowel screening unit like the
breast screening unit. The gastroenterologists run the show. Haemoccult
II positive? Come back Tuesday for colonoscopy.
Run differently in different states from that point of view
you have described exactly the UK program
Qld will be taking a similar tack, NSW using existing services (and I have
people waiting 12+months for public colonoscopy now)
Referrals are required - from GPs in private or nurse co-ordinators in public.
We were told the the national program is benchmarked on colonoscopy
access within 30 days!! which is faster than private by a month or
two and faster than public by a year or two.
The limit is that people can only access the system if they have a
letter of invitation from Medicare Australia. But I did ask if it was
possible for people in the target age groups to get an invitation and
was told they could ring the hotline number themselves and ask and
they would probably get in as long a they are in the target age
groups.
Whether the system would be silly enough to exclude people with
symptoms (it is a screening program) - well that is possible if they
are worried about upsetting the research data.
Ian.
--
Dr Ian R Cheong, BMedSc, FRACGP, GradDipCompSc, MBA(Exec)
Health Informatics Consultant, Brisbane, Australia
Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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