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The role of the BSA Pathologist

Pathology specimens from screened women present particular challenges. At the macroscopic level is the need to adequately sample impalpable lesions, requiring the additional modality of specimen radiography.

At the histological level the pathologist is presented with a number of difficult to classify conditions, many of which lie on the border between benign and malignant. The reproducibility diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ is the ideal.

Professional Standards

Qualifications

A pathologist involved in BreastScreen Aotearoa will be medically qualified and registered to practice in New Zealand. All BreastScreen Aotearoa pathologists should hold recognised postgraduate qualifications in pathology and be enrolled on the New Zealand Medical Council’s Vocational Register in anatomic or general pathology.

Accreditation process

  1. All pathologists working in the BSA programme require accreditation to do so.
  2. Each pathologist will be assessed on their qualifications, training etc and a decision will be made by the Accreditation Committee based on information submitted in the Accreditation Template.
  3. A recommendation will be made by BreastScreen Aotearoa, regarding their ability to work in the Programme and the outcome will be communicated to their Lead Provider Manager, Clinical Director and the pathologist concerned.

NPQS Appendix V: Accreditation Protocols

Pathologist Accreditaton Template

Continuing professional development

Participating pathologists must be enrolled in the RCPA’s Continuing Professional Development scheme [CPD] and complete the appropriate requirements for participation in the Programme.

Every three years, participating pathologists must submit to the Unidisciplinary Pathologists Group, evidence that they have attended national and/or international pathology meetings or conferences with a component on breast pathology. They should demonstrate that they have participated in the breast pathology components for a total of at least six educational hours over the proceeding three years.