Building a team and implementing a urology care initiative
At Duke University Medical Center a large-scale health initiative was undertaken to improve prostate cancer (PCa) screening following the controversial recommendation against screening issued by the United States Preventative Services Task Force in 2012. A complex and diverse team of individuals was brought together to construct a best-practice PCa screening algorithm and support its implementation. Grant funding and a joint effort between primary care and urology were key to the successful implementation of a novel screening pathway. Following implementation, a smarter screening process was evident by increased screening in high-risk individuals and a parallel, decreased screening in low-risk individuals. With a flexible PCa screening algorithm and an adaptable team, we hope to continue to monitor long-term outcomes and update our best-practice screening process when necessary.
