Booking of mammograms
Mammograms are the primary screening test for breast cancer.
Provinces and territories manage booking of mammography using several strategies. Eleven jurisdictions do not require a referral from a primary care provider (PCP). Some jurisdictions assist a participant to locate a PCP if they do not have one. In most jurisdictions, booking appointments is done through local telephone numbers or toll-free calls, and programs provide information online or by letter about where screening is available.
Breast screening intake (mammography)
| P/T |
Role of PCP in access to test |
Process for booking a screening test |
YT |
- Referral not required
- Person must identify a PCP
- PCPs can refer participant and program will mail them their appointment time
|
- Person books by calling program number
- For recall screening, participant can fax in a form they are sent by mail and the program will mail them their appointment time
|
| NT |
- Requisition from community health centre (CHC) required to support medical travel
- Person must identify PCP when booking appointment (program will refer participant to a CHC if they do not have a PCP already)
|
- Person books by calling toll-free program number
- Individuals requiring travel support must coordinate the appointment through their CHC
|
| NU |
- Referral from PCP required for out of territory screening
|
- Screening mammograms need to be coordinated with travel taking place for another reason
|
| BC |
- Referral not required
- Must identify a PCP when booking screening; can be a walk-in clinic, nurse practitioner, or naturopath
|
- Call central booking (toll-free) or contact local screening site directly. Returning participants may use their booking code and book their appointment through the online portal
|
| AB |
- Referral not required
- Most screening sites may require PCP to be identified when booking mammogram to ensure work-up
- Site assists person to identify a PCP if they do not have one
|
- Call screening site (local number) or mobile units directly to book appointment (participant’s choice)
- Program does not book appointments centrally
|
| SK |
- Referral not required
- Participant encouraged to identify a PCP but can attend appointment without identifying one
|
- Person books by calling toll-free program number for mobile and fixed sites
|
| MB |
- Referral not required
- Participant encouraged to identify a PCP, but can attend appointment while trying to find a PCP
- PCPs can refer underscreened person for screening. Program will contact person to set up the appointment
|
- Person can book an appointment at any of the BreastCheck sites by calling a toll-free number
|
| ON* |
- Referral not required, but PCPs or nurse practitioners can refer participants
|
- If referral was sent directly to a site, the site will contact the participant to schedule an appointment
- Participants can book an appointment by calling screening sites
- In two regions, mobile coaches are operated by a host hospital that also has on-site Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) screening services. The mobile coaches often have dedicated staff and phone lines, but also work with the on-site screening staff at the host hospital for booking.
|
| QC |
|
- Person books by calling screening site (toll-free or local number)
|
| NB |
- Referral not required. Screening sites accept PCP referrals and then contact person with appointment time
|
- Call closest screening site directly (mostly local numbers, some toll-free) to book appointment
|
| NS |
- Referral not required
- Participant is asked to identify PCP when booking appointment
- If participant does not have PCP, each breast imaging site has their own process on how participants can access their results. The Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program (NSBSP) is exploring options to better manage unattached patients
|
- Participant self-refers by calling toll-free program number
- They can choose to be screened at any of the breast screening sites (fixed or mobile)
|
| PE |
|
- Participant self-refers by calling toll-free program number (patient can now request an appointment online as well)
|
| NL |
|
- Participant can book by calling program (toll-free or local), or visiting a local screening site
- For recall screening, participants are given an appointment date and time with their result letters. A reminder letter of appointment is sent to the individual four weeks before upcoming appointment
|
*ON: Starting in fall 2024, the Ontario Breast Screening Program will be expanded to include people ages 40 to 49. Until the expansion goes live, people ages 40-49 are able to access breast cancer screening outside of the OBSP with a referral from a healthcare provider.
