Committees
Quality Management Committee
The BreastScreen Queensland Quality Management Committee is responsible for monitoring and advising on the quality of the Program through reviewing Program standards, policies and protocols in accordance with national and state policies. The responsibilities of the Quality Management Committee include:
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developing, implementing and evaluating the BreastScreen Queensland Quality Improvement Plan
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providing advice on specialist quality improvement issues including the implementation and maintenance of BreastScreen Australia National Accreditation Standards, and forwarding recommendations to the National Quality Management Committee
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providing advice on Program quality improvement issues including recommendations from Q Groups, reviewing Program policies and protocols, implementing the State Plan, and maintaining the BreastScreen Queensland Register
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providing advice on the development of the BreastScreen Queensland Annual Statistical Report and on the development of accurate information about breast cancer screening and the Program for women, practitioners and service providers
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providing advice on appropriate research required to inform further development of the BreastScreen Queensland Program.
The BreastScreen Queensland Quality Management Committee is convened by Cancer Screening Services Branch and reports to the Chief Health Officer. The Cancer Screening Services Branch are also the secretariat to the Quality Management Committee. The Committee meets no less than three times per year. Time-limited working parties are convened by the Quality Management Committee as required. Current subcommittees include the Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Subcommittee, and the BreastScreen Queensland National Accreditation Standards Implementation Working Group.
Members of the Quality Management Committee are appointed by the Director General for a three year term and include: an independent chair, convenors of each of the eight uni-disciplinary BreastScreen Queensland Q Groups, Chair of the Consumer Advisory Committee, representatives from various medical colleges and representatives from relevant bodies and interest groups.
Q Groups
The role of the BreastScreen Queensland Q Groups is to provide expert discipline-specific guidance and advice to the State Coordination Unit on national and state training, standards, and quality assurance issues. The BreastScreen Queensland Q Groups are comprised of eight uni-disciplinary groups:
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Medical Officers Q Group
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Surgery Q Group
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Radiology Q Group
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Radiography Q Group
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Nurse/Counselling Q Group
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Pathology Q Group
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Health Promotion Officers Q Group
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Data Managers Q Group
Each Q Group is comprised of at least one representative from each of the 11 Screening and Assessment Services and a representative from the State Coordination Unit.
Each Q Group has a convenor as chair. The Q Group convenor represents their discipline on the Quality Management Committee and on other relevant forums or committees which may arise from time to time and as approved by the BreastScreen Queensland Program Manager.
Q Groups report directly to the BreastScreen Queensland Program Manager and report to the BreastScreen Queensland Quality Management Committee.
State Accreditation Committee
The BreastScreen Queensland State Accreditation Committee assesses and makes formal recommendations to the National Quality Management Committee on the accreditation applications of BreastScreen Queensland Screening and Assessment Services. These recommendations are made on the basis of documentation provided by the State Coordination Unit and received from BreastScreen Queensland Services.
The State Accreditation Committee also has a liaison role with the National Quality Management Committee, advising the national body about any state accreditation matters.
Membership of the State Accreditation Committee is drawn from Queensland Health and independent professional groups, and consists of representatives from epidemiology, pathology, radiology, academic institutions and general practice.
State Accreditation Committee meetings are convened by Women’s Cancer Screening Services, BreastScreen Queensland State Coordination Unit on a quarterly basis or more frequently as deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the State Accreditation Committee.
Consumer Reference Group
The Consumer Reference Group provides the programs administered by Cancer Screening Services Branch, with a means of communicating more effectively with women representative of our target groups and consumers. The establishment of the Consumer Reference Group reflects the belief by Cancer Screening Services Branch that one of the most effective ways to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and equity of services, is to seek advice from women regarding key policy, service delivery and health promotion issues. The Consumer Reference Group for Cancer Screening Services Branch reflects the following principles of community participation in cancer screening services:
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the focus of Cancer Screening Services Branch is on the needs of the Queensland population
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inequities in morbidity and mortality from breast and cervical cancer amongst different groups of women are reduced
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resources and screening services are provided in an efficient and effective manner
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the importance of women as consumers of women’s cancer screening services are recognised and respected.
Membership of the Consumer Reference Group is drawn from a number of community based organisations and volunteers from BreastScreen Queensland Services. Face-to-face meetings of the Consumer Reference Groups are held at least once per year.



