Aim: to increase the number of female patients aged 20-69 whose patient record shows that they have had a Pap Smear during the previous 2 years.
A pap smear every 2 years can prevent the most common form of cervical cancer in up to 90% of cases and is a female's best protection against cervical cancer.
Nurse Pap Test Providers: Are you are registered division 1 nurse? Have you considered up skilling to becoming a qualified Pap test provider?
Becoming a Pap test provider will enable you to increase your skills and income for the practice via the Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers, specific to nurses undertaking Pap tests. It also provides the ability to offer female patients the choice to have this done by a female in an all male practice other benefits include:
• Alleviate Drs Workload particularly if in solo practice or practices where patients are unable to get into see their regular GP in a timely manner.
• Enables the Practice nurse to offer patients a women's health clinic one day a week or more if identified or required.
For more information on this 
Nurse Pap test Providers-benefits to general practice
Victorian Cytology Service (VCS) is primarily responsible for reporting cervical cytology tests. It is the largest single laboratory reporting Pap tests in Australia, examining approximately 280,000 Pap smears per year. This represents approximately half of the smears taken annually in Victoria.
Doctors can access support and information from VCS Liaison Physician Dr Stella Heley, Dr Heley is available to discuss aspects of the cervical screening program with practitioners either by telephone or by visiting in person to your practice (Dr Heley can present at Drs Education meetings held within your practice). The pathologists are also available at all times to discuss reports with referring practitioners.
• Stationery is available which enables practitioners to use appropriate software to generate request forms.
• VCS courier service collects smears and delivers reports in greater Melbourne and major Victorian country centres.
• Electronic transfer of results to practitioners with access to Medical Director®, Medical Spectrum, Genie, MedTech32, RX Medical, MIMS or Locum. For
For more information log onto Victorian Cytology
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre is Victoria’s leading clinic for the testing and treatment of sexually transmissible infections. The doctors and nurses at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) are experienced specialists in all aspects of sexual health, so clients visiting MSHC can be assured of high quality professional and non-judgmental care. Melbourne Sexual Health Centre also provides support to community based health professionals via online resources and on-site education and training opportunities Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
Clinical Audit Tool:
CAT can assist your practice with the following Pap Smear quality improvement strategy.
1. Identify females aged 20-69 years with no Pap Smear recorded.
2. Identify females aged 20-69 years with last recorded Pap Smear > 2 years ago.
Clinical Audit Tool Pap Smear Resource
Recall Reminder Systems: Be sure to develop your practice register reminders and use these to initiate prevention before or during the patient visit. They can be either opportunistic or proactive. A female with an unsatisfactory Pap test report should have a repeat smear. Pap test registers, which operate in all states and territories, can send recall or reminder letters to women who fail to have repeat cytology test at 12 months. Below are resources to enable a practice to set up a system to deal efficiently with the Pap smear process. Practices must have a system in place to ensure clinically significant tests and results are followed up.
RACGP Standards for general practices 4th edition:
Standard 1.5
Continuity of care – “Our practice provides continuity of care for its patients”
Criterion 1.5.3
System for follow up of tests and results“Our Practice has a system for the follow up and review of tests and results”
RACGP Guidelines Resources:
Guidelines for Preventive activities in General Practice 'Red Book'
Putting Prevention into Practice 'Green Book'
Further information and Resources please refer to our Resources page.