The study design includes a test of two methods of patient follow-up contact that started in late August.  Half the follow-ups are done using automated telephone calling, and the other half is a mailed follow-up.  So far, results indicate that mail follow-up yield two times more screenings than no follow-up contact at all. 

Data for the first year of the program is still being analyzed, but preliminary results indicate that this study intervention is increasing the rate of screening among UCare members.  UCare’s baseline screening rate was 30.46% at the beginning of the study with a target screening rate at the end of year one of 33.46%.  At this stage, the projected rate at year end will be 34%. 

One aspect of the study is the production and delivery of “risk lists” for members who need screening to UCare providers.  An example of how the list was used is a clinic serving the Hmong community.  After using the list to make clinic patients aware of their need for screening, the rate of screening at that clinic went from 3% to 60%.  This approach appears to get a better response from small clinics than from larger clinics possibly due to the fact that a risk list for a larger clinic could be many pages long and require too great a staff commitment to make phone calls to members on the list.  Responses to the project on the part of providers appeared to vary between care systems. 

For more information, contact: Wendy Metchnek

Phone: 612-676-3403

Email: wmetchnek@ucare.org

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