title: Screening during routine health assessment.
abstract: Medical charts of 189 patients receiving routine health examination were reviewed. Of the 15 evaluative procedures included, two (the physical examination and stool for occult blood) were performed by physicians; the remaining 13 were delegated to paramedical personnel and/or outside facilities. A total of 330 of 1,497 (22 percent) were found to be abnormal. Of abnormalities only 144 (44 percent) received follow-up as determined by chart audit. Physician-performed tests yielded 62 of 330 abnormal results. The rate of follow-up for physician-detected abnormalities was 58.1 percent compared to 40 percent for abnormalities found by other providers. To improve follow-up rate it is suggested that only those procedures be performed in which early detection significantly alters morbidity and/or mortality and that a structured definition of follow-up role be established or paramedical personnel.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003710:Demography; D003933:Diagnosis; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies