Continuous Improvement and the Expansion of Quality ... - NCQA

W E l l N E S S A N D P R E V E N T I o N
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In 2010 an estimated 142,570 men and women were diagnosed with colon cancer, and
approximately 51,370 died from the disease, making it the second leading cause of cancer
death in the United States. 1,2 The Colorectal Cancer Screening measure assesses whether adults
50–75 years of age received screening for colorectal cancer, based on the recommendation of
the U.S. Preventive Services Task force. 3
• Symptoms are not common in colorectal
cancer until the disease has progressed
and chances of survival have decreased. 4
Treatment in the disease’s earliest stage is
highly successful, with a five-year survival
rate of 74 percent. 5
• Most colorectal cancers occur in people
without a family history of colorectal
cancer. 6 While screening is extremely
effective in detecting colorectal cancer, it
remains underutilized.
the Case for Improvement
• Approximately half of American adults do
not receive the necessary colorectal cancer
screening. 7 Screening rates for colorectal
cancer lag behind other cancer screening
rates. 8
• fecal occult blood tests, colonoscopy and
flexible sigmoidoscopy are shown to be
effective screening methods. 6 Colorectal
screen of individuals with no symptoms
can identify polyps whose removal can
prevent more than 90 percent of colorectal
cancers. 9
N AT I o N A l C o M M I T T E E f o R Q U A l I T y A S S U R A N C E
ColoRECTAl CANCER SCREENING
• Deaths associated with colorectal cancer
declined in 2010, continuing a 15-year
trend attributed to increased screening
and early detection. 3,10 between 2003
and 2007, 35 states saw decreases in the
number of new cases of colorectal cancer, 11
but regional variation exists.
• Screening for colorectal cancer is shown
to be cost effective for the health care
system. The cost of screening far outweighs
the costs of treating more progressive
colorectal cancer. 12
• Doctors’ recommendations have been
found to be a major predictor of whether
patients receive the supported screening. 13
HEdIs Measure definition
The percentage of adults 50–75 years of age
who had appropriate screening for colorectal
cancer with any of the following tests: fecal
occult blood test during the measurement
year; flexible sigmoidoscopy during the
measurement year or the four years prior to
the measurement year; or colonoscopy during