Details
Overall access to preventive care
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Specific Indicators
- Percentage of screen-eligible people who are up to date with at least 1 screening HPV test in the past 66 months or cytology (Pap) test in the past 42 months
- Percentage of screen eligible patients up to date with breast screening
- Percentage of screen eligible patients up to date with colorectal tests
Cancer screening is an important component of preventive care and a focus for many primary care teams. According to statistics gathered by Ontario Health, almost a million fewer colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings were conducted between March and December of 2020 than were carried out through the same time period in 2019.
Key Resources
Engage your regional primary care lead for support with cancer screening and sign up for the Provincial Primary Care and Cancer Network newsletter for regular cancer screening updates. Contact PrimaryCareInquiries@ontariohealth.ca for more informationAfrocentric screening program for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer among immigrant patients in Ontario | Canadian Family Medicine
Ontario Cancer Screening Performance Report, 2023 | Cancer Care Ontario
Change Ideas
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Redesign your system, and lever digital health solutions
- Map your local processes with provincial pathway maps to build best practices for the management of patients
Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Pathway Map Cervical Cancer Pathway Map
Cervical Cancer Pathway Map
Colorectal Cancer Screening Pathway Map
For attached patients, using reports such as MyPractice: PrimaryCare and the MyPractice Primary Care Plus (with Screening Activity Report data) and developing EMR reminder systems to recall patients due for cancer screening may be helpful. Consider patient preferences such as language, email, text, and phone. Add health promotion messages in reminders. Integrate with online appointment booking systems
Useful Resources on Prevention and Screening—OntarioMD
Education and Training
- Review GUIDELINES and ADVICE Screening Resources for Healthcare Providers with providers to decrease variation in practice
Engage Patients
- Provide patients with information about cancer screening. Integrate health promotion into reminder systems and scheduled visits
For more information on screening, link patients to myCANCERiQ and Get Checked for Cancer
For more information on cervical screening, link patients to Cervical Screening and Ontario Cervical Screening Program
For more information on breast screening, link patients to Screening for Breast Cancer
For more information on colon cancer screening, link patients to Screening for Colorectal Cancer and ColonCancerCheck
- For patients without a primary care provider (unattached), prepare materials at points of entry into the system for self-referrals
Health811 (call 811 [TTY: 1-866-797-007] or use the live chat at ontario.ca/health811) to access the free ColonCancerCheck fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit to screen for colon cancer or to find a clinic that does cervical screening
Ontario Breast Screening Program Locations(patients can self-refer)
- Increase cancer screening participation among First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous populations
The Indigenous Cancer Strategy sets to address and improve cancer care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, and Urban Indigenous people in Ontario.
Review and incorporate into your practice the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Cancer Screening Resources
Review and incorporate into your practice the Cancer 101 Toolkit for First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous people
Utilize the Indigenous Navigators in your region, who provide support and advocate for First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous patients and families by:
Facilitating and coordinating access to palliative and supportive cancer care services
Addressing cultural and spiritual needs
Networking with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to make the cancer journey culturally safe
Resources for cervical screening change to HPV testing as of March 2025
- Consult the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing in Ontario: Implementation Resource Hub, from Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), to explore tools and resources available to primary care providers
- For easy reference, bookmark or print the Ontario cervical screening guidelines summary flow chart
- Where relevant, follow Ontario Cervical Screening Program: guidance to support the transition years following the launch of human papillomavirus testing in Ontario: Cervical screening and colposcopy recommendations for people ages 21 to 24
- Clinicians who are Telus PSS users can use OntarioMD HPV Tools, composed of 4 searches and 2 reminders, to help them identify patients eligible for cervical cancer screening
- Map your local processes with provincial pathway maps to build best practices for the management of patients
Last Updated: August 26, 2026