PrintReview launched into imaging, pathology
Alberta’s review of diagnostic imaging and pathology testing will focus on how the services are provided as a whole instead of examining individual locations or individuals for competency, the health minister said Thursday.
In an interview with the St. Albert Gazette, Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Fred Horne said the province-wide review will examine best practices at the quality and assurance level as opposed to day-to-day operations.
“It’s definitely focused on the best practices in the system,” Horne said. “This really has to do with how care is organized.”
The minister’s sweeping review of imaging and pathology testing province-wide came moments after a similar but smaller review was announced for Drumheller.
Alberta Health Services will be examining CT, ultrasound and x-ray results after it was discovered that a pathologist made interpretation errors in 34 cases. All of those patients are being notified by AHS for follow-up.
The last six weeks have also seen two other high-profile cases where test results might have been presented incorrectly. In November, the Rockyview General Hospital had to review 31 pathology tests due to potential concerns with a piece of equipment, and earlier this month AHS disclosed it was reviewing 1,700 cases at the Royal Alexandra Hospital after it alleged a pathologist had misread some samples taken from cancer patients.
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