The PSA tracker: A computerised health care system initiative in Northern Ireland

Intoduction The follow-up of men with prostate cancer forms a large part of many urologists workload. However, a rising PSA usually announces disease progression long before any clinically apparent symptom. Thus, many men can be safely monitored with PSA measurement alone. To facilitate this process, PSA tracking software was introduced to remotely monitor PSA results, minimising the work required for follow-up. Methods Stable prostate cancer patients were into the PSA tracker. When each PSA test was performed, the result was reviewed. The program automatically generated patient reminder letters, summary reports for clinic use and all correspondence to patients and primary care physicians. Results Since 2006, 65 patients have been entered into the PSA tracker. Median age was 81 (57–94) years. 274 outpatient appointments have been saved, indicating a potential saving of £32,000. More importantly it increased the capacity of the department to assess new patients. For the individual patient, the system has saved them, a median of 3 appointments each. Conclusion Remote follow-up of prostate cancer is associated with significant savings for both healthcare organisations and individual patients. This example, further demonstrates the benefits of implanting healthcare software for patients and hospitals.