Half of preventative health services missed at annual check-ups
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
January 25, 2012
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that 46% of guideline-recommended preventative services were missed during annual physician visits. According to a new study that pulled data from audio recordings of 484 health examinations, physicians were most likely to recommend screenings for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and hypertension; they were least likely to offer advice or recommendations for influenza immunization, aspirin use, or vision screening.
Researchers also found that younger patients received fewer preventative services, and patients with higher body mass indexes were more likely to receive a greater number of services. Despite prompts in patients' electronic medical records, physicians tended to deliver fewer preventative services in visits where electronic medical records were accessed.
Source: Medical News Today
