Achieving 80% Screening Rates for Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer in Southwest Georgia: Is it Possible?

Authors:

William Grigg (Presenter)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia Campus

Millie Foster, Mercer University School of Medicine
Hannah Bowe, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

Public Health Statement: A new era of healthcare has begun: one based on quality improvement, value-based care, preventative screenings, digital records and reporting. In this study, an analytical tool known as ‘Population Manager’ is used in conjunction with electronic medical records to examine and increase current screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The purpose for this study is to increase compliance with current preventative screening protocols through strategic outreach to noncompliant patients identified using a population manager software. In addition, patient charts are reviewed and corrected for previous documentation errors.

Methods/Approach: The analytical tool, along with the position of a Population Manager, was employed in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Albany, Georgia, Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC), in four of eight primary care clinics. The analytical tool was used to screen current patients, patients lost to followup, and new patients to ensure compliance with preventative screening measures. During chart auditing of scheduled patients, the population manager corrected documentation errors and alerted providers of preventive screening measures to address with patients. For unscheduled patients, charts were audited to ensure documentation accuracy and recall action lists were generated to schedule appointments for noncompliant patients.

Results: During the two month research period there was significant growth in test clinics when compared to control clinics. In at least one clinic, the breast cancer screening rate increased by 21% (27% to 48%), the cervical cancer screening rate increased by 8% (61% to 69%), and the colorectal cancer screening rate increased by 17% (72% to 89%).

Conclusions/Implications: Based on the results of this study, it is hypothesized that by implementing Population Manager across the AAPHC network of clinics will lead to nearly an 80% screening rate for the three fields measured above. With an 80% colorectal screening rate nationwide, the American Cancer Society states that nearly 203,000 deaths will be prevented from 2013 to 2030, and in Georgia an 80% screening rate will save 5,617 lives. While barriers to cancer screening exist, an 80% cancer screening rate can be achieved in Southwest Georgia by employing the model in this study.