Walkerton to become Affiliate Site of Ontario Breast Screening Program as of February 1
As of February 1, 2013, the South Bruce Grey Health Centre’s Walkerton location will become
an affiliate site of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). Cancer Care Ontario (CCO)
mandated that all OBSP Satellite Sites move to an Affiliate Site Model by February 2013 in
response to privacy concerns.
What does that mean to our patients?
New phone number for clients will be 519-881-1220. Or call any of the South Bruce Grey
Health Centre sites and enter extension 2201.
The Walkerton site was already a Satellite Site of the London Regional Hub. In that model, the
regional office did all of the appointment scheduling, data entry of normal and abnormal charts,
client letters, booking diagnostic follow up, managing and collecting reports for abnormal cases,
and film tracking.
This process did not always provide a seamless service for patients, as communication had to
happen between multiple parties. In this new model, the above duties will all be performed at the
Walkerton hospital. Now patients can talk directly to the department where they will be having
the test performed to make or change appointments. Also the patients can ask specific questions
such as directions, parking, registration process, and length of appointment.
Walkerton had previously identified a desire to move to this model in an effort to improve
patient care and enhance the client experience. CCO provides financial reimbursement for the
clerical and technologist functions required to meet the increased workload required by the
department. Currently in this area the only other sites offering the OBSP are Owen Sound,
Listowel and Goderich.
More about OBSP:
The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is a program of Cancer Care Ontario. The OBSP
provides high-quality breast cancer screening for women aged 50 to 74 years. Breast cancer
screening is free-of-charge for women in Ontario. The OBSP provides:
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High-quality mammograms in sites accredited by the Canadian Association of
Radiologists;
Well-developed quality assurance at each site;
Results of the screening appointment within two weeks for both women and healthcare
providers;
Help to set up extra tests or referrals if your results suggest that they are needed;
A reminder letter when it is time to return for next screening mammogram. Usually, this
is every two years. Women over the age of 73 do not receive a reminder letter. However,
they are welcome to call for an appointment after they have discussed it with their
healthcare provider.
The OBSP also now screens women aged 30 to 69 years who have been confirmed to be at high
risk for breast cancer. The OBSP High Risk Screening Centres:
 Facilitate referrals for genetic assessment for women who may be at high risk for breast
cancer (if appropriate);
 Offer annual screening mammography and breast MRI for women who have been
confirmed to be at high risk for breast cancer;
 Facilitate follow-up breast assessment services for women who require extra tests.
More about SBGHC
South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) is a hospital corporation located across Grey and
Bruce counties with a budget of in excess of $42 million. SBGHC has four rural hospital sites
located in Chesley, Durham, Kincardine and Walkerton. Our staff of close to 400 provides high
quality care and all of our sites offer 24-hour emergency care. Other services include acute care,
coronary care, obstetrical, surgical and a full range of diagnostic and ambulatory care services.
For more information contact:
Loretta Dunn, Communications Coordinator
South Bruce Grey Health Centre
21 McGivern Street
Walkerton, ON
N0G 2V0
Phone: (519) 370-2400 ext. 2281
Email: ldunn@sbghc.on.ca