The ongoing work of Prenatal Screening Ontario is best supported by the input of those who have experience with prenatal screening, as a health-care practitioner, patient or family member. Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) works very closely with those active in the prenatal screening community in order to gain expert advice and knowledge about the work that we do related to education, quality assurance and standards of care. 

PSO committees, working groups and task forces

Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) depends on input from experts and advisors from relevant fields to ensure that all the elements of a robust screening program are best carried out. 

PSO currently has five groups that facilitate partner input and advice on important operational areas: Fetal Blood Group Genotyping Steering Committee, Fetal Blood Group Genotyping Clinical Implementation Working Group, PSO Advisory Committee, Genetics Working Group, and Education Working Group.

Fetal Blood Group Genotyping Steering Committee 

The Fetal Blood Group Genotyping (FBGG) Steering Committee provides leadership, oversight, and decision-making authority, to ensure the successful implementation of fetal blood group incompatibility screening in Ontario.  Activities of the FBGG Steering Committee include:

• Providing oversight and governance – ensuring the project adheres to organizational policies and regulations,
• Providing strategic direction - related to project implementation; setting project goals and guiding relevant work,
• Monitoring project performance and timelines - prioritizing project milestones and pivot as required,
• Overseeing project risk management/mitigation – identifying and assessing risks associated with project; developing strategies to mitigate risks,
• Fostering positive and timely communication about project progress to senior leadership and other relevant stakeholders,
• Making key decisions and approvals to guide the project,
• Resolving escalated issues.

Consult the Terms of Reference to find more information about the FBGG Steering Committee.

Fetal Blood Group Genotyping Clinical Implementation Working Group

The Fetal Blood Group Genotyping (FBGG) Clinical Implementation Working Group is tasked with advising on the planning and coordination of the clinical implementation of fetal blood group incompatibility screening in Ontario.  Activities of the FBGG Clinical Implementation Working Group include: 

• Advising on and reviewing PSO’s proposed implementation plan, including timelines, tasks and resource requirements,
• Advising on and informing the development of an effective knowledge translation strategy,
• Reviewing and providing feedback on educational material development including, but not limited to:
  • Content for the PSO website and other online opportunities,
  • Paper and web-based education tools,
  • Social media communications,
• Providing input on identifying areas for change management and devising strategies to address them effectively,

Providing input on identifying gaps and barriers to fetal blood group incompatibility care and advising on the development of strategies to ensure equitable access.

Consult the Terms of Reference to find out more about the FBGG Clinical Implementation Working Group.

Please note that the three groups below are currently on hiatus, as we are revising the current governance structure to support our program's expansion. 

PSO Advisory Committee

The PSO Advisory Committee (PSO-AC) provides support to PSO and the Ministry of Health (MOH) regarding issues related to prenatal screening. Activities of the PSO Advisory Committee include:

• Providing provincial stakeholders a forum to have input on the direction of current and future PSO activities,

• Reviewing new conditions that may be amenable to systematic population screening,

• Considering and advising on strategic directions for the MOH, and for prenatal screening in Ontario,

• Identifying potential collaborative partners and initiatives to enhance screening for pregnant people in Ontario,

• Advising on social, ethical, health system, and scientific issues that affect prenatal screening in Ontario,

• Responding to questions referred to the PSO-AC by PSO, the Government of Ontario, or other stakeholders.

Consult the Terms of Reference to find more information about the PSO Advisory Committee.

Genetics Working Group

The Genetics Working Group provides advice to PSO regarding clinical issues related to prenatal screening for genetic conditions. The group assesses the current prenatal screening algorithm and makes recommendations to improve consistency, optimization of the system, and access. Current and ongoing work includes:

• Reviewing the clinical indicators for publicly funded cfDNA screening,

• Assessing the performance of each screening test and the prenatal screening system as a whole,

• Advising PSO on the implementation of strategies for clinical changes in prenatal screening.

Consult the Terms of Reference to find more information about the Genetics Expert Working Group.

Education Working Group

The role of the PSO Education Working group is to advise PSO in the development of PSO Education Strategies. Past and current activities include:

• Reviewing and informing the development of educational tools and decision aids, stakeholder engagement activities, content for the PSO website,

• Reviewing educational materials to ensure that they are evidence-based, applicable to the Canadian audience (i.e. health care providers and public), separate from advertising or commercial companies, as well as accessible, unique and up-to-date.

Consult the Terms of Reference to find more information about the Education Working Group.