Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Outreach Mailing System to Improve Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Rate in Outpatient Clinical Setting

The hospital recognized an urgent need to improve the current rate of colorectal cancer screening and to identify precancerous lesions at an earlier stage in the normal risk population.

In 2011, the hospital developed a CRC screening initiative involving 38 primary care physicians, gastroenterologists and ICLOPS (clinical investigation software vendor) registry personnel.

First, strategies were developed to identify eligible patients for initial CRC screening. Next, outreach letters were sent out to encourage patients to schedule screening tests with their PCPs.

From this initiative, 57 patients were found to have precancerous adenomas and two patients were found to have colon cancer. Read the whole case study below (click "view item").

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)