After a decade of behind-the-scenes work, comprehensive consultation and deep collaboration, HPV screening including province-wide cervix self-screening launched in January 2024. Since then, the teams behind this innovative approach to screening—which includes the transition to human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening and a self-collect option—have received some well-deserved recognition.
BC Cancer, Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services (PLMS) and Provincial Digital Health and Information Services (PDHIS), together with the Ministry of Health, won the
Premier's Award for Innovation and Excellence in the Partnership category. These provincial awards recognize the most outstanding projects, teams or individuals showcasing distinguished examples of professionalism, innovation and collaboration.
BC Cancer's Cervix Screening Program and PLMS also received the PHSA+ Award for Innovation.
This new approach to cervix screening provides early and accurate cancer screening by detecting the presence of HPV, the leading cause of cervical cancer. It also helps to break down barriers and inequities by enabling people with a cervix to self-screen where and when they feel most comfortable.
Within each team that contributed to this work were countless individuals whose unique expertise advanced this work and whose dedication to people-centred solutions exemplified the Coast Salish teaching
tee ma thit, "do your best", demonstrating how thoughtful innovation can make a lasting difference in community health.
Implementation required engagement work with eligible screening participants, primary care providers, the Cervical Cancer Screening Laboratory, health authorities, the Ministry of Health, colposcopy, pathology and medical microbiology specialists and information system experts.
"We partnered with any professional or organization that would interface with cervix screening in any way across the health system, and launched a targeted campaign to promote this new screening option to people throughout B.C.," says Laura Gentile, team lead and operations director, Cervix Screening Program. "Every step of the way, our teams were thorough, thoughtful and tireless. I’m tremendously proud of what we accomplished."
"Developing testing and reporting protocols based on entirely new screening guidelines was an immense shift and the amount of work our lab staff undertook to be able to properly handle, triage, test and report on each sample with an individualized screening recommendation, while receiving hundreds and hundreds of samples each day is remarkable!" says Brenda Smith, manager, laboratory operations, BC Cancer, PLMS.
"Our PDHIS teams for Laboratory Information Solutions and Cascade brought in critical expertise and were instrumental as we worked to align our systems and support and to ensure patients receive the right information at the right time. When your team pulls together to improve patient experience and contribute to eliminating one type of cancer, it can be very motivating!" says Jamie Bovill, laboratory informatics director, PLMS.
Since the launch, 55 per cent of screening has transition to HPV testing and more than 90,000 self-screening kits have been mailed to patients.
"We are already seeing increased screening volumes, especially in those who have never participated in cervix screening before," says Dr. Lily Proctor, medical director of British Columbia’s cervix screening program, BC Cancer, and a surgical gynecologic oncologist at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Cancer. "With increased screening coverage, we can identify cervical precancers and cancers earlier and better, to prevent cervical cancer or treat it earlier when there are more treatment options and better outcomes."
The PHSA+ Awards are part of an internal recognition program that celebrates teams and individuals who bring our purpose, vision, values and Coast Salish teachings to life in the workplace. They go above and beyond to serve patients and families across B.C.
