Indran Indrakrishnan
Emory University School of Medicine, U.S.A
Title: Identification & correction of decreasing cancer screening colonoscopy rate during the economic recession
Biography
Biography: Indran Indrakrishnan
Abstract
Colon cancer is a silent killer & is the second common cause of cancer deaths in the country. This very same colon cancer is one of the most easily curable cancer if detected early & it is preventable by removal of precancerous polyps by the screening colonoscopy. This colon cancer screening colonoscopy is highly recommended by multiple governmental agencies and professional societies for people at or over 50 years and others who are at higher risk even before they reach 50. The rate of this life saving screening colonoscopy has decreased reentry mainly due to no shows & cancellations at our center. This is presumably due to various impacts from economic recession which include but not limited to loss of jobs, high deductible/high co payments from the insurance companies. When faced with economic insecurity, asymptomatic individuals may be unable to afford screening colonoscopy, or may perceive it to be less important than competing demands for their more limited resources. Reduced screening rates during the recession may ultimately increase health care costs and result in cancer related deaths. This is consistent with literature in other fields of medicine. For instance, during difficult economic times women are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced rather than local breast cancer.
The purpose of this study is to identify the incidence & causes of no shows and cancellations for the screening colonoscopies at our center. Once done, then apply corrective measures if any and thereby reduce the no shows & cancellations and increase the screening colonoscopy rate . This is important for good quality patient care.
First , we analyzed the data of the previous years before the economic recession and compared with the present one.
Total number of screening colonoscopies scheduled: 443
Total Cancellation: 35 ( 7.9%)
Commercial Insurance screening colonoscopies (CISC) scheduled: 312
CISC Cancellation: 25 (8%)
Total cancellation/no shows rate decreased from 13.8% in the initial measurement to 7.9% in the re- measurement group.
CISC cancellation rate was 19.9% in the initial measurement & 8% in the re-measurement group. This is a statistically significant decrease with a P value < 0.001.The re-measurement values are not identical to the performance goal but are closer.
The above data was derived from the patients’ encounters where they cancelled the procedures with the endoscopy center. There may be a very large number of patients who declined the screening colonoscopies at the “entry” level at the primary care physicians’ offices due to the unawareness of the screening benefits. We recommend that the primary care physicians offices to specifically emphasize and advise to the patients that their cancer screening colonoscopies are completely covered under preventive care regardless high deductible & co pays .and advise them accordingly at the time of referrals especially when the insurance coverage is complete. The high deductible/high co pay insurance has become rampant under the present economy with employers & insurance companies finding the ways to cut their cost. Advising the patients proactively about the insurance implications in preventive healthcare tests is a commendable practice in continuing to provide a good preventive healthcare to the community. This recommendation is applicable to other preventive screening tests such as Mammograms, PAP smears, PSA & bone density tests.