Chloe Saunders, Healthcare Project Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support

Symptom based software which runs in parallel to a GP’s IT system Symptom based software which runs in parallel to a GP’s IT system. Designed to help: Alert GPs to “think cancer” Raise awareness of cancer signs and symptoms Act as a patient safety net Aid continuity of care in practices where a patient may see multiple GPs Main functions: Prompts Symptom checker Searches The original tool is based on two risk calculators for cancer; the Risk Assessment Tool (RAT) algorithm developed by Professor Willie Hamilton and the QCancer® algorithm developed by Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox. Currently: Integrated QCancer tool is available for EMIS Web users in England, Wales and NI. Integrated CDS tool is available for INPS Vision users across the UK. We are working with TPP SystmOne to develop an integrated tool.

Prompts For each patient with a cancer risk above 2%, a prompt appears with the patient’s QCancer score and the reasoning behind it. Uses patient record, relevant tests and read-coded symptomatic information from the previous 12 months. Useful if a patient has presented with vague symptoms and/or has seen a number of GPs.

Symptom checker Allows the GP to record a patient’s additional and/or repeat symptoms during the consultation. Calculates a live % risk score incorporating information from the patient record including previous reported read-coded symptoms, test results and demographic data. For this to work, the GP must already think that the person has symptoms raising some concerns of cancer, and want to use the tool as an aid to clinical judgement in deciding a course of action.

Search function This tool allows the practice review their population based on the following data searches on patients with a recorded QCancer score.  

QCancer Outcomes and Follow Up This function allows the GP to record QCancer outcomes for referral, further investigation or follow up.  

The QCancer tool was developed to assist clinicians with the early identification of risk factors associated with cancer. Uses Julia Hippisley-Cox’s QCancer algorithm to produce a risk score based on the individual’s current signs, symptoms and risk factors. Includes risk score prompts, the Symptom Checker template, an additional template to record QCancer Outcomes and Follow Up, and new Safety Netting searches. Please visit the EMIS Health support centre and login using your EMIS Web credentials to activate the prompt function or access the active symptom checker and follow up templates

‘(the CDS tool) made us think a bit more deeply…it’s probably made me more aware of symptoms which I may not have been as aware of in the past’. GP from England using the RAT algorithm

Thank you. Please visit our stand to find out more about our CDS tool and other early diagnosis resources for GPs. Chloe Saunders, Healthcare Project Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support