Key Points:
- New Quality Measure: The measure tracks whether adults aged 50-75 complete a follow-up colonoscopy within six months of an abnormal SBT. This is aimed at addressing high rates of incomplete CRC screenings.
- Research Findings: A retrospective study of 20,581 adults across 38 health systems revealed that less than half (48%) had a follow-up colonoscopy within 180 days of an initial abnormal SBT.
- Importance of Tracking: The low follow-up rates were surprising to researchers until it was discovered that health systems were not actively tracking these metrics. The new measure aims to change that by making it easier to monitor follow-up procedures.
- Implementation Feasibility: Field testing indicated that the measure is feasible, valid, and reliable. Health systems can implement this measure as they typically have the necessary data elements, especially if colonoscopies are performed in-house.