1. Reducing the Risk of Delayed Colorectal Cancer Diagnoses Through an Ambulatory Safety Net Collaborative.
- Author
-
Moyal-Smith R, Elam M, Boulanger J, Balaban R, Cox JE, Cunningham R, Folcarelli P, Germak MC, O'Reilly K, Parkerton M, Samuels NW, Unsworth F, Sato L, and Benjamin E
- Subjects
- Humans, Early Detection of Cancer, Safety-net Providers organization & administration, United States, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Aged, Ambulatory Care organization & administration, Colorectal Neoplasms diagnosis, Colorectal Neoplasms prevention & control, Colonoscopy statistics & numerical data, Delayed Diagnosis prevention & control
- Abstract
Background: An estimated 12 million adults in the United States experience delayed diagnoses and other diagnostic errors annually. Ambulatory safety nets (ASNs) are an intervention to reduce delayed diagnoses by identifying patients with abnormal results overdue for follow-up using registries, workflow redesign, and patient navigation. The authors sought to co-design a collaborative and implement colorectal cancer (CRC) ASNs across various health care settings., Methods: A working group was convened to co-design implementation guidance, measures, and the collaborative model. Collaborative sites were recruited through a medical professional liability insurance program and chose to begin with developing an ASN for positive at-home CRC screening or overdue surveillance colonoscopy. The 18-month Breakthrough Series Collaborative ran from January 2022 to July 2023, with sites continuing to collect data while sustaining their ASNs. Data were collected from sites monthly on patients in the ASN, including the proportion that was successfully contacted, scheduled, and completed a follow-up colonoscopy., Results: Six sites participated; four had an operational ASN at the end of the Breakthrough Series, with the remaining sites launching three months later. From October 2022 through February 2024, the Collaborative ASNs collectively identified 5,165 patients from the registry as needing outreach. Among patients needing outreach, 3,555 (68.8%) were successfully contacted, 2,060 (39.9%) were scheduled for a colonoscopy, and 1,504 (29.1%) completed their colonoscopy., Conclusion: The Collaborative successfully identified patients with previously abnormal CRC screening and facilitated completion of follow-up testing. The CRC ASN Implementation Guide offers a comprehensive road map for health care leaders interested in implementing CRC ASNs., (Copyright © 2024 The Joint Commission. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF