Screening and Recalls
Robina Doctors Screening, Recalls and Reminders SCREENING & RECALLS – KEEPING YOU WELL Cliché or not, it remains true – Prevention is not just better than cure, it is in most cases a lot easier than cure. Even more importantly, early detection when you are not even aware something is wrong can help save your life. We understand that at times you probably feel a little overwhelmed by the volume of information you receive, not just in the media but from the clinic as well. It is quiet difficult as a patient to go in to the Doctor for a cold and leave with a host of information and undergo procedures that you were just not ready to deal with. But these preventative health programmes can help save your life. Examples of how we have recently achieved this in our patients by doing regular simple blood tests include:
There are many more examples that we could give you, but I’m sure you get the message, early detection is the best way to prevent a serious disease progressing undetected. Listed below are the current screening programmes we offer as part of keeping our patients well. Please feel free to discuss these with the Doctor or Nurse at your next visit. Government Driven Initiatives Screening Health Assessment – For People between the age of 45 and 49 (inclusive) who are at risk of developing a chronic disease. Cardio Vascular Risk Assessment – A CVD risk assessment assesses your risk of whether you are likely to develop angina or have a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years, by looking at the risk factors for Cardio vascular disease. This programme starts at age 40 and it is recommended that your risk is assessed regularly. Diabetes Risk Assessment – For People aged 40 to 49 years (inclusive) with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes as determined by the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool. Elderly Patient Annual Assessments – For People aged 75 years and older and for Permanent residents of a Residential Aged Care Facility. Cancer Screening– Cervical smears are recommended for all women from age 20 to 69 years (http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/screening/cervical/) and are repeated between 3 months to 2 years depending on the results of your test. For patients that have had a hysterectomy we recommend (if appropriate) a smear test every 5 years which includes an all important internal examination to assist with the detection of ovarian masses. Breast Cancer Screening – Mammograms are recommended for all women aged 40 to 69 on a two yearly basis (http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/screening/breast/). We recommended that prior to your mammogram you undergo a breast examination with your Doctor as mammograms may sometimes miss lumps or areas of abnormal tissue that can only be detected by examination. Patients on Hormone Replacement Therapy or those with a Family History of Breast Cancer are advised to have annual mammograms. Bowel Cancer Screening – The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program provides free bowel screening to people aged 50 to 65 years. The program will be expanded again between 2015 and 2020 to fully implement biennial screening for all Australians aged 50 to 74 years. (http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/screening/bowel/) Childhood Immunisation – Immunisations are offered for the prevention of many diseases including Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough (Pertussis), Human Papilloma Virus (Cervical Cancer), Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal Disease, Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Haemophillus Influenze, Rotavirus and Chicken Pox (http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/). Influenza Immunisation – Annual immunisation is offered to high risk children, pregnant woman and adults during the autumn and winter. Covid 19 Immunisation and Boosters – Initial and booster vaccine are available for children and adults. Adult Immunisation – ADT (Adult Diphtheria and Tetanus) or DTP (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) booster vaccine is recommended at age 25, 45 and 65. Meningococcal Immunisation – Available for high risk patients from age 6 weeks. Practice Driven Initiatives Asthma Annual Checks – Annual asthma checks to ensure you are using your medication correctly, have an updated Asthma Action Plan and can manage your acute asthma attack initial stages on your own is an important step in reducing serious disease and death from Asthma. Annual checks are done with the Nurse and Clinical Pharmacist. Anaphylaxis Annual Checks – Annual anaphylaxis checks to ensure you are using your medication correctly, have an updated Anaphylaxis Action Plan and can manage your acute anaphylaxis attack initial stages on your own is an important step in reducing serious disease and death from anaphylaxis. Annual checks are done with the Nurse and Clinical Pharmacist. Blood screen – we recommend a full blood screen at ages 5, 15, 30, 35 and 40 and then an annual blood screen from age 45 onwards. Bone Density (Osteoporosis) – We recommend regular bone density checks from age 50 onwards (or at the onset of menopause) to detect osteoporosis. Colon Cancer – We recommend blood and faeces testing from age 50 onwards and a colonoscopy for all patients with a family history of colon cancer. The screening for patients with a family history is recommended to start at an age 10 years younger than the first family member was first diagnosed. Diabetes – If you have a family history of Diabetes, we recommend regularly testing starting at an age appropriate to when the youngest family member was diagnosed. Diabetes Annual Check – This is a free check for patients with confirmed Diabetes and is carried out by your nurse or doctor every year to help you manage your diabetes and prevent complications. You can arrange your free check by contacting the Nurse. Glaucoma – We recommend regular eye testing including pressure measurements from age 40 onwards. Hepatitis B – We recommend blood testing and immunisation for all patients. Lung Cancer in Smokers – We recommend regular chest x-rays for smokers from age 40 onwards. Ovarian Cancer – We recommend that you choose to have a Doctor perform an internal examination when you have your Cervical Smears done and if there is a history in the family, then regular Ultrasound/CT/MRI scanning as well. Prostate – There is currently no national screening programme and it remains a controversial topic, we however recommend PSA levels from age 40 with 2 yearly prostate examinations and the completion of a Prostate Screening Questionnaire to determine how often you should be tested. Skin – We recommend annual skin cancer checks from age 18 and in high risk patients the checks should be pre-Summer and post-Summer.
REMINDER SYSTEM Our practice is committed to preventative health and follow-up care of our Enrolled patients. We may send you a reminder notice from time to time offering you preventative health and follow-up health services appropriate to your care. We run an active recall system for our Enrolled Patients that sends you reminders of when you are due for your preventative health screening tests and examinations. If you do not wish to be part of this system please let us know. |