Ep. 615: Breast Cancer Screening: Underfunded?
Guest: Dr. Paula Gordon (University of British Columbia)
“The shortage of breast radiology services in [British Columbia] is having an impact on breast imaging services,” says Dr. Paula Gordon, a radiologist and medical researcher specializing in breast cancer. She is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of British Columbia. “Add in inadequate fee structures that discourage radiologists from performing breast cancer screening and the situation is only going to get worse,” continues Gordon.
Gordon points out, “We're finding loads of cancers at our clinic, doing ultrasound for women with dense breasts. But the fee they told us to use is not a screening fee, and it doesn't cover the true overhead, so our colleagues in the community – who are more business-minded – are refusing to offer it.”
“As a result, women are going to private clinics and they are being gouged,” says Gordon. “They’re paying upwards of $750 for an ultrasound screening that the public system pays $115 to perform.” The end result is women are underserved in breast cancer services in BC.
We invited Dr. Paula Gordon to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the current quality of medical care women are being provided in breast health in BC.
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