Effectiveness of a provider reminder on fecal occult blood test follow-up.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of an electronic reminder upon the timeliness and proportion of patients referred for evaluation of a positive fecal occult blood test and receipt of colonoscopy. METHODS: Outpatients (468) with a positive occult blood test were prospectively identified and had a note entered into their electronic medical record prompting their provider to act upon this result. The results were compared to 634 control patients from the prior year. RESULTS: The intervention was associated with a 20.3% absolute increase in gastroenterology consultation within 14 days (P < 0.001) and significantly prompter consultation. The median time to colonoscopy decreased by 38 days during the intervention (P = <0.0001). A multivariable model found that the intervention was significantly associated with shorter time to consultation and colonoscopy. CONCLUSION: A simple electronic reminder is associated with a significant improvement in the proportion of patients referred for, and timeliness of, evaluation of a positive FOBT.

Author information

Author/s: Larson, Meaghan F (MF); Ko, Cynthia W (CW); Dominitz, Jason A (JA);

Affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Digestive diseases and sciences (Dig Dis Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 54 (issue 9) : pp 1991-6

Dates: Created 2009/07/27; Completed 2009/08/10;

PMID: 19255849, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 8/21/2009)

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