Skin cancer is a significant health concern in Australia, with one of the highest rates of skin cancer globally. As such, doctors and medical practitioners must be well-educated on skin cancer treatment to ensure patients receive appropriate and effective care.
Educating doctors on skin cancer treatment is critical for improving patient care, reducing the incidence of skin cancer, lowering healthcare costs, and advancing professional development.
Conceived in 2006 by Professor Clifford Rosendahl and built by Tobias Wilson, the Skin Cancer Audit & Research Database (SCARD) Surgical Audit Project is a surgical log designed for doctors who treat skin malignancies. The system is typically used for those in primary care working with skin cancer, such as doctors, nurses, pathologists, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons.
The SCARD platform also allows practitioners to compare their surgical performance against a de-identified data pool (the SCARD Pool) of their peers, as well as practice type and location.
On the 14th of February 2023, a resolution was passed to form an Incorporated Association in Queensland with the objective “To collect, manage and analyse deidentified data regarding the management of skin malignancies, and to provide education and statistical feedback for health care professionals.”
Skin Cancer Audit and Research Data Inc aims to establish a data lake of deidentified skin cancer specimen records and process research results in a database. This includes the existing 1.5 million deidentified records in the SCARD Pool and contributions from pathology providers nationwide.
SCARD Inc marks the next chapter in the evolution of the Skin Cancer Audit and Research Database, previously known as the SCARD Surgical Audit. Initially created in 2007, the SCARD Surgical Audit was designed to assist primary care practitioners in evaluating their performance and patient management for skin cancer treatment.
At SCARD Inc, our core focus is improving skin cancer treatment through extensive research and education. We aim to raise awareness about the significance of early detection and effective treatment of skin cancer, thus minimizing the impact of this disease on individuals and communities worldwide.
Below are some of the key publications produced from the SCARD Pool