CMECNE

Abnormal Pap/HPV Report During COVID-19 Pandemic? Interim Guidance from ASCCP

Learning Objectives and CME/Disclosure Information

This activity is intended for healthcare providers delivering care to women and their families.

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

1. Discuss the reasoning behind modifying gynecologic practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Describe changes to the ASCCP standards for management and follow-up of abnormal cervical cancer screening results

Estimated time to complete activity: 0.25 hours

Faculty:

Susan J. Gross, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, FACMG President and CEO, The ObG Project

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified conflicts of interest (COI) are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

The PIM planners and others have nothing to disclose. The OBG Project planners and others have nothing to disclose.

Faculty: Susan J. Gross, MD, receives consulting fees from Cradle Genomics, and has financial interest in The ObG Project, Inc.

Planners and Managers: The PIM planners and managers, Trace Hutchison, PharmD, Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CHCP, Judi Smelker-Mitchek, MBA, MSN, RN, and Jan Schultz, MSN, RN, CHCP have nothing to disclose.

Method of Participation and Request for Credit

Fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity are as posted on The ObG Project website. During the period from 12/01/2022 through 12/01/2024, participants must read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures and study the educational activity.

If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the test and evaluation. Upon registering and successfully completing the test with a score of 100% and the activity evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately.

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and The ObG Project. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Nursing Education

The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 0.2 contact hours.

Read Disclaimer & Fine Print

NOTE: Information and guidelines may change rapidly. Check in with listed references in ‘Learn More – Primary Sources’ to best keep up to date

SUMMARY:

ACOG and other societies have recommended modification of gynecologic office visits and surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary goals are to protect patient health and also limit viral transmission to professional and office staff. ASCCP provides recommendations specific to the management of abnormal cervical cancer screening tests and provides the following guidance

If Practicing in a Setting Where Elective Procedures Have been Suspended

Low-grade cervical cancer screening result
- May postpone diagnostic evaluation up to 6 to 12 months
High-grade cervical cancer screening result
- Document attempts to contact and schedule diagnostic evaluation within 3 months

KEY POINTS:

High-grade cervical disease without suspected invasive disease
- Document attempts to contact and schedule procedure within 3 months
With suspected invasive disease
- Attempt contact within 2 weeks
- Evaluate within 2 weeks of that contact (i.e., 4 weeks from the initial report or referral)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

ASCCP states that the above should not be considered “definitive management guidelines”, but rather management should take into account the clinical scenario and review “case-by-case”
Guidelines may change due to current “fluidity of the healthcare environment”
Tracking protocols are still necessary so that when routine care is reinstated, patients can be traced and called back for care
The guideline further states that ASCCP Colposcopy Standards should be used once the pandemic is contained (see ‘Learn More – Primary Sources’ below for Colposcopy Standards)

Learn More – Primary Sources:

ASCCP Interim Guidance for Timing of Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures for Patients with Abnormal Cervical Screening Tests

ASCCP Colposcopy Standards

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Abnormal Pap/HPV Report During COVID-19 Pandemic? Interim Guidance from ASCCP