Reminders increase colon screenings

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A computerized system that printed reminders for patients for colorectal cancer screening increased sceenings by 9 percent, U.S. researchers said.

The reminder system, called ClinfoTracker, was developed by family medicine doctors at University of Michigan Health System to help track and manage primary care. The system encourages doctors and patients to follow guidelines for managing chronic diseases or for prevention screenings.

The study, published in the journal Medical Care, ClinfoTracker was integrated into 12 primary care practices participating in the Great Lakes Research into Practice Network, a statewide practice-based research network in Michigan.

The study followed the practices for nine months. The researchers found that average screening rates at the beginning of the study were 41.7 percent. By the end of the study, that had jumped to 66.5 percent.