title: Opportunities to improve colorectal cancer screening in Connecticut through Medicare claims data.
abstract: Colorectal cancer represents a serious public-health problem in the United States, with important geographic differences and disparities of care evident in its detection and treatment. While effective screening tests exist, Connecticut lacks current data about rates of colorectal cancer screening. The Connecticut Department of Public Health commissioned Qualidigm, the federally designated Quality Improvement Organization, to conduct an analysis of 2008 fee-for-service Medicare claims data to determine screening rates. This article reports the findings of this analysis to increase awareness of opportunities for improvement in colorectal cancer screening and to highlight demographic and geographic variations that may require particular attention in Connecticut.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, USA. tom.vanhoof@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Van Hoof
authors.forename: Shih-Yieh
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gacek
authors.forename: Avis Harper
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Meehan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D058996:Quality Improvement; D058028:Research Report; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy; D014481:United States