The National Cancer Institute (NCI) funds Breast Cancer Surveillance (BCS) at Group Health Center for Health Studies as part of the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC). BCS combines several different Group Health data systems, including patient, radiology, and cancer data, to evaluate mammogram screening and outcomes. These data are used by
- Group Health clinical staff to capture breast concerns at the time of a mammogram.
- Group Health radiologists who use breast cancer risk factor information when interpreting mammograms.
- Center for Health Studies staff for breast care quality improvement assessments, research analyses that result in publications, or means of identifying potential study populations.
- Annual radiologist audit reports.
- NCI-funded BCSC studies to report on national trends in breast cancer prevention, screening, and outcomes (with Group Health data combined with data from six other sites).