The current turbulence is not so much a credit crunch as an overdue testing of prices and risk assessments.
An "alert" identified all incomplete or overdue tests.
In a RCT study, a laboratory-based registry was used to fax and/or mail laboratory results, reminders of overdue laboratory tests, and quarterly population reports to providers, and to mail reminders for overdue tests and alerts for elevated test results to patients [ 20].
Patient data entered into Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), which enabled the tracking of evidence-based guidelines and provided reminders of due or overdue tests to providers at each patient visit, improved compliance to eye and foot exams [ 50].
In a RCT, faxed reminders were sent to the provider for patient overdue laboratory tests and letter reminders were sent to the patients with a warning of overdue laboratory tests.
One approach involves generation of unsolicited alerts informing providers of recommended or overdue screening tests.
An automated reminder call to women a few days before a scheduled mammogram appointment; an annual report to PCPs with the names of women failing to keep their mammogram appointments; at outpatient visits, PCPs receive a reminder in the electronic health record about overdue routine tests, including mammography status.
Women assigned to CASI were less likely to report being overdue for Pap testing (no Pap test in past three years) and were less likely to report that Pap testing was difficult due to body shape or size.
On the other hand, women completing CASI-D were less likely to report being overdue for Pap testing (no Pap test in past 3 years; 5.1% vs. 15.0%, AOR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.0 – 0.6) and less likely to report no plan to get a Pap test within the next three years (12.2% vs. 23.2%, AOR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.2 – 0.2).
Although these attitudes did not seem to predict attendance (both attenders and those who were overdue found the test embarrassing and were afraid of what the results might show), minimising embarrassment and fear could help to ensure that the screening experience is acceptable to women in all ethnic groups.
