Prioritization

Risk-based Prioritization for Cancer Screening

COVID-19 - Tip-Sheet #15 - Guidance for Primary Care Providers Resuming Cancer Screening

Click chart to enlarge

Risk-based Prioritization for Cancer Diagnostic Assessments / Follow-up Pathways

Program

Diagnostic Assessment and Follow-up*

OBSP (breast)

Mammography, MRI, and ultrasound services should be prioritized as follows:

  1. Breast assessments (in particular, BI-RADS 4 and 5)
  2. High risk OBSP
  3. Average risk OBSP

See COVID-19 tip sheet for OBSP screening and assessment services for more detail on priority levels.

OCSP (cervical)

Colposcopy services should be prioritized as follows:

  1. Priority level A: colposcopy must always be performed
  2. Priority level B
    1. B1: colposcopy should be performed
    2. B2: colposcopy could be performed depending on resource availability
  3. Priority level C: colposcopy should not be performed during the pandemic – refer back to primary care provider for repeat screening with cytology within 12 months

See COVID-19 tip sheet for facilities performing colposcopy for more detail on priority levels.

CCC (colorectal)

Endoscopy services should be prioritized as follows:

  1. Priority level A: GI endoscopy must always be performed
  2. Priority level B
    1. B1: endoscopy should be performed
    2. B2: endoscopy could be performed depending on resource availability
  3. Priority level C: endoscopy could be performed in some circumstances
  4. Priority level D: endoscopy should not be performed during or after the pandemic – refer back to primary care provider for FIT testing upon resumption

See COVID-19 tip sheet for facilities performing gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for more detail on priority levels.

*Referrals will be triaged according to risk and alignment with guidelines (e.g. referrals for high grade cervical dysplasia and those with a positive FIT will be prioritized). Non-urgent and elective referrals may be deferred or rejected based on capacity. Individual providers may need to adjust their screening and diagnostic service capacity as-needed to respond to site-specific pressures.

COVID-19 Tip Sheets for Cancer Screening and Diagnostics

COVID-19 CANCER SCREENING TIP SHEET FOR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS

COVID-19 TIP SHEET FOR SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES IN THE ONTARIO BREAST SCREENING PROGRAM (OBSP)

COVID-19 TIP SHEET FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING COLPOSCOPY

COVID-19 TIP SHEET FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) ENDOSCOPY (REVISED)