Nurse-led skin cancer detection pilot continues

8 Apr 2024

In December 2022, we spoke with Marion Eckert, Director of the Rosemary Bryant Research Centre (RBRC) Uni SA and her team about their new pilot program Project Check Mate – a collaboration with Skin Smart Australia and health promotion charity Skin Check Champions, taking a unique and sustainable approach to early skin cancer detection, by mobilising and upskilling region al nurses to assist local GPs in provision al diagnoses of skin cancer.

The pilot program has recently received additional funding from Wellbeing SA, Department of Health and now invites nurses working in or near the Eyre Peninsula, and the Clare Valley district to be involved.

RBRC is planning to run two pop-up skin clinics at the following events, with the key initiative to engage GPs and train local nurses to perform skin checks:

  • SALT Festival Eyre Peninsula, 19–28 April
  • Clare Valley SGA Gourmet Week, 17–26 May

The program strategy focuses on the upskilling and education of primary care nurses working in collaboration with GPs and dermatologists to provide best practice, evidence-based, nurse-led skin checks to rural and regional South Australians.

The approach is focused on nursing clinicians receiving education (approximately seven weeks – 1.5 hours per week of interactive training) through Skin Smart Australia and the University of South Australia to expand their scope of practice to undertake skin checks.

This will allow nurses to provide the initial engagement and assessment of higher-risk populations who have never or rarely had a skin check by means of pop-up skin check clinics at large rural and regional events.

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