According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women in the U.S. We’re sending postcards and emails next month to targeted Peoples Health members recommending colorectal cancer screenings.

Female patients ages 67 to 85 who sustained a fracture (except of the finger, toe, face or skull) should have a bone mineral density (BMD) test performed or be prescribed a drug to treat or prevent osteoporosis within six months of the fracture.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by low bone mass, which leads to bone fragility and increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine and wrist.

CMS’ annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey mails in March to a random selection of Medicare beneficiaries and the Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) mails in the fall. These surveys help provide feedback on patients’ experiences with your office and with us. 

Allowing patients to make appointments and receive care in a timely manner is one way you can develop and maintain a positive health care experience. Pre-visit planning is a great best practice in addressing the measures around access to care that patients comment on for Medicare’s annual patient experience survey. The table below offers tips on ways to address these measures and improve patients’ experiences.

Each year in spring, CMS conducts its annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, collecting feedback on patients’ experiences with their providers and health plan. Improving the ability to get needed care quickly is a key measure, as well as one of the ways to better serve patients.