Radiologists working within BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) participate in the 2 phases of the screening process: reading the screening mammogram and assessment clinics.

In the first phase the radiologist works alone, performing one of the two initial readings of the mammogram. There is also a close association with the Medical Imaging echnologists (MITs) who perform screening mammography and their quality control (QC) tests and with the medical physicist in the operation of the mammographic quality assurance (MQA) programme.

In the second phase the radiologist works as part of a multidisciplinary team which includes MITs, surgeons, pathologists and breastcare nurses.

Qualifications and experience

Radiologists involved in BSA will be medically qualified, registered to practise in New Zealand and have a basic qualification in radiology, such as Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR). They will also hold vocational registration in diagnostic radiology.

BSA radiologists must undertake further training prior to commencing screening mammography within the programme. This should include as a minimum:

  • reporting of a minimum of 2000 mammograms within the 12 months prior to commencement
  • completion of 300 dummy third reads within the three months prior to commencement (a recall rate of not more than 12 percent is required)
  • demonstration of reader sensitivity of 80 percent from a cancer seeded set of images such as BREAST
  • participation as an observer at the full clinical multidisciplinary team meetings and the process of resolution of discordant readings during the period of training as a third reader
  • attendance at one teaching course currently recognised by RANZCR within the last 2 years.

Minimum competency required for unsupervised assessments

Prior to commencing unsupervised assessment, radiologists must satisfy the clinical director that they are competent in the following:

  • supervising and interpreting mammographic work-up
  • performing and interpreting breast ultrasound
  • performing invasive procedures available in their assessment clinic
  • attendance and supervised participation within the 12 months prior to commencement in 10 assessment sessions within an established national population-based screening programme either in New Zealand or overseas, at a screening facility approved by the RANZCR.

Accreditation process

All radiologists working in the BSA Programme require accreditation to do so.

  • Each radiologist will be assessed on their qualification, training etc, and a decision will be made by the Radiologists’ Unidisciplinary Group based on information submitted in the accreditation template.
  • A recommendation will be made by BSA regarding the radiologist’s ability to work in the programme. The outcome will be communicated to their lead provider manager, clinical director and the radiologist concerned.

Professional requirements

A full description of the professional requirements for breastcare nurses working the in the BSA programme is in criterion 8.18 of the BreastScreen Aotearoa National Policy and Quality Standards.

BreastScreen Aotearoa National Policy and Quality Standards