Updated in December 2018

Introduction

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has appointed Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) to coordinate and manage PET scan services for individuals across Ontario who have valid Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) coverage. The MOHLTC has also appointed Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) to coordinate and manage requests for out of province PET scans for both insured and uninsured indications for individuals with current OHIP coverage.

Ontario Health's (Cancer Care Ontario) PET Scans Ontario program uses an evidence-based approach to ensure individuals receive appropriate access to PET scans within Canada providing streamlined access where evidence supports the use of PET as part of patient management and building evidence to determine the role of PET in emerging indications. Its objective is to help patients avoid unnecessary testing by having PET scans available only for situations where it has been shown that patients can benefit from the test.

Patients can access PET scans through various funding streams: as an insured service where the evidence is strong; through the Ontario PET Registry where the evidence is weak but compelling; through the PET Access program where each request, submitted by physicians and containing patients’ personal health information, is reviewed by an expert panel after initial triage and redaction by PET Scans Ontario to determine if a PET scan may benefit the patient. Patients may also qualify for provincial clinical trials, which are managed separately from the above streams of access.

PET Scans Ontario collects data pertaining to PET scans for the purposes of planning and management for the delivery and expansion of PET scan services in the province. Ontario Health's (Cancer Care Ontario) PET Scans Ontario online referral and reporting tool (eTool) enables system-wide, timely data collection on utilization and wait times within the province of Ontario. Data obtained through the eTool is also used to assess the impact of PET for Registry indications and/or emerging trends in PET Access requests.

Patient Demographics Data

Patient demographics data are collected through the submission of PET Scan requests. Data may be updated during the life cycle of the request.

Physician Data

Physician contact information is collected when a user is registered in the application or changes their profile.

PET Access Pre-Scan Request Data

PET Access pre-scan request data are collected through the submission or update of a PET Access request. It contains patient clinical information and physician notes related to the request for a PET scan. It is used for adjudication on the request, by the PET centre technologists and reading physicians, and for Program reporting.

PET Access Post-Scan Data

PET Access post-scan data are submitted by the PET centre upon completing the PET scan. It contains limited PET scan result data and administrative data on the PET scan.

PET Access Reviewer Data

PET Access Reviewer Data is collected by the PET Scans Ontario Reimbursement Associate and includes adjudication decisions and dates on PET Access requests.

PET Insured and Registry Pre-Scan Request Data

PET Insured and Registry pre-scan request data are collected through the submission or update of a PET Insured or Registry request. It contains patient clinical information and physician notes related to the request for a PET scan. It is used by PET centre technologists and reading physicians, and for Program reporting.

PET Insured and Registry PET Centre Post-Scan Data

PET Insured and Registry PET Centre post-scan data are submitted by the PET centre upon completing the PET scan. Insured post-scan data contains administrative data on the PET scan, and Registry post-scan data contains limited PET scan result data and administrative data on the PET scan.

PET Registry Physician Post-Scan Data

PET Registry physician post-scan data are submitted by the referring physician upon receiving the results of the PET scan. Physician post-scan data contains data for the purpose of analysis, or compiling statistical information with respect to the management, evaluation, or monitoring of the allocation of resources, or planning for all or part of the health system, including the delivery of services; and administrative data.

PET Centre Data

Includes PET centre contact information.

PET Centre Scanner Data

Includes PET centre scanner data.