Comprehensive Breast Care Program
A collaborative program of Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health.
The Program
The Comprehensive Breast Care Program (CBCP) is the demonstration phase of a program initiated in October 2007 by Alberta Health Services – Edmonton area.
The goal of the CBCP is to offer a seamless, integrated, patient-centered approach to diagnosing and treating breast abnormalities that will:
- Provide timely and consistent multidisciplinary care,
- Improve the quality of diagnosis and care for patients with breast abnormalities, and
- Expedite access to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The CBCP is intended for diagnostic and treatment services, not routine screening.
Advantages of the CBCP
The CBCP is designed to support family physicians and their patients through the often complex and time-consuming breast cancer diagnostic and care process.
Family physicians benefit from the CBCP program by being immediately connected with a network of clinical experts who are familiar with current developments and practices in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Patients benefit through timely access to health services, referrals, a nurse navigator, education materials and psychosocial support.
Support to Physicians
The CBCP ensures the family physician remains the primary care provider. Physicians are directly supported by a nurse navigator and a breast expert (physician with special training) who are backed by a multi-disciplinary team including radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, psychologists and social workers.
The CBCP offers family physicians:
- Direct consultation regarding diagnostic steps and treatment options.
- Direct booking of appointments (diagnostic imaging, surgery, Cross Cancer Institute, etc.) at the physician’s request.
- Regular updates throughout the care process regarding the patient’s progress, status and next steps.
- Reminders regarding ongoing monitoring and recommended follow-up.
Print Resources for Physicians:
FAQs for Physicians (pdf)
FAQs for Surgeons (pdf)
FAQs for DI (pdf)
Family Physician Guide to the Comprehensive Breast Care Program (pdf)
Patient Guide to the Comprehensive Breast Care Program (pdf)
Professional Learning Opportunities:
Video: Dr. Kelly Dabbs presentation on the new CBCP program
Seminar and Breast imaging practices and recommendations (pdf)
Seminar The five Ws of breast reconstruction - What every family physician should know (pdf)
CBCP Newsletter - February 2009 (pdf)
Referral Procedures
Patients may be referred into the Comprehensive Breast Care Program at any time in the care pathway, but ideally upon identification of abnormal breast changes (lump, suspicious mammogram, or other clinical findings).
To refer a patient, complete and fax the CBCP referral form to the CBCP at 780-643-4488.
Contact Information
Comprehensive Breast Care Program:
(780) 638-CBCP (2227)
between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
or info@cancerboard.ab.ca