Early Detection, Big Results: Tyne Valley Surpasses Screening Target

Teamwork and focused outreach helped Tyne Valley patient medical home boost life-saving screenings by more than 15 per cent.

“Preventative care is important because early detection increases our odds of success,” said June Dawson, the medical office assistant at Tyne Valley Medical Centre.

Tyne Valley Medical Centre embraced the Patient Medical Home model, a collaborative approach which gives patients access to a team of healthcare providers, including physicians and nurse practitioners, as well as allied healthcare workers, nurses, and more. Tyne Valley is one of 17 Patient Medical Homes across the province, helping affiliate more patients with primary care.

Working as a team, the staff saw an opportunity to focus on preventing illness before it happens. They set an ambitious goal: increase the number of patients completing screenings such as colorectal cancer tests, mammograms, and HPV checks—three of the most common cancers on PEI (colorectal, breast and cervical), making early screening critical.

“We pulled the list of all our patients that were due for, say, colorectal cancer screening,” explained Sidney MacDonald, a licensed practical nurse in the medical centre. “If you were due, we’d get a hold of you, give you the kit, and then you’d bring that back into us. If anything was of concern, we’d book you in.” 

It was a simple plan, and it worked. 

“Our goal was to bring our percentage up 15 per cent within a year. We surpassed that in only five months.”

— Jill Gaudet, clinic coordinator

For Tyne Valley Medical Centre, this is just the beginning. Their success story is proof that when healthcare teams work together, set clear goals and engage patients meaningfully, great things happen.