According to the report, hospital staff estimates that 55 percent of residents in the area over age 50 have received colon cancer screenings. BMC hopes to raise the number to 75 percent by eliminating some common barriers for patients, including complicated referral procedures.
The new program allows patients to call the hospital and provide medical histories over the phone instead of having to first make an appointment to see their primary care physicians, according to the report. Endoscopists would then review the medical record, and then the procedure would be scheduled if no concerns were raised.
Patients who are not eligible for the streamlined procedure, such as those with diabetes or heart conditions, can meet with the endoscopist prior to the procedure, according to the report. This option is available to all patients.
Read the Eagle’s report about BMC’s streamlined colonoscopy program.
