Cancer screening rates among eligible emergency department patients are “persistently low,” according to a study published Feb. 2 in Cancer Investment.
Researchers from Indianapolis-based Regenstrief Institute analyzed EHR data from 198,210 patients across 11 emergency departments for the study.
Among eligible patients, 55.4% were screened for breast cancer, 33% were screened for colorectal cancer and 3.1% were screened for lung cancer.
“Health systems should view the emergency department as a strategic touchpoint for identifying patients who are overdue for guideline-recommended cancer screening, particularly among high-risk and underserved populations,” the Regenstrief Institute said in a March 18 news release.
Read the full study here.
