NEWS RELEASE
Labrador-Grenfell Health Reviewing Mammogram Results of Multi-Patient Occurrence
August 31, 2022 – Happy-Valley-Goose Bay, NL: As a result of its preliminary review of an issue first identified by Central Health with select mammography results, Labrador-Grenfell Health confirms that some mammograms were read on viewing workstations that do not meet technical standards for the review of mammography images. Labrador-Grenfell Health does not have a radiologist. While the RHA provides diagnostic imaging at its facilities, radiologists at Eastern Health read and report on those diagnostic images. While the risk to patients is low we are proceeding with a review, in collaboration with Eastern Health.
The Newfoundland Centre for Health Information (NLCHI), the provincial health care information manager, has been working with Labrador-Grenfell Health to identify mammography images that were not read to technical standard. An audit has been completed to identify mammography images that were reviewed on workstations that do not meet technical standards. The review to-date suggests this multi-patient occurrence presents a low risk to patients.
NLCHI’s preliminary review suggests that approximately 2,530 exams of the 8,698 completed between September 18, 2018 and August 19, 2022 (representing approximately 2,095 of a total of 5,071 patients) will require further review. This is approximately 29% of mammograms completed in Labrador-Grenfell Health during the review period. This number may change as the review progresses.
As a next step, all images that were identified as having been read on a viewing station that was not to technical standard will be reviewed to determine if there are discrepancies.
Through Labrador-Grenfell Health’s ongoing and collaborative review with Eastern Health, Labrador-Grenfell Health will contact all impacted patients.
Labrador-Grenfell Health is sending letters to all patients whose images are subject to the review, notifying them of the process. Patients whose images do not show any discrepancies will receive a verification letter from Labrador-Grenfell Health as soon as possible, and no later than the end of October.
Labrador-Grenfell Health is taking the following steps for those patients whose images show possible diagnostic discrepancies to inform them of next steps by the end of October:
– contacting patients’ primary health care providers;
– contacting patients by phone;
– contacting patients with a follow-up letter.
Patients with scheduled mammograms are not affected and those mammograms are proceeding according to schedule and will be read to the proper technical standards.
A toll-free line has been set up for those who have questions at 1-833-960-4574 This line will be staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Labrador-Grenfell Health thanks patients for their patience and understanding while this review is ongoing. President and CEO of Labrador-Grenfell Health has emphasized that, “We are committed to providing safe and quality health care to the people we serve, and we are working closely with Eastern Health to deliver on that commitment. I apologize to those affected by this multi-patient occurrence.”
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Media Contact:
Gaïtane Villeneuve
Regional Director of Communications, Labrador-Grenfell Health
communications@lghealth.ca