Simple colon cancer screening tool available online
Screening tools help guide patients to physicians who can find cancer in it's early stages
In an effort to improve colon cancer awareness and education, Rush Health Associates in Chicago has developed an online Colon Cancer Screening Tool. The online survey evaluates key factors such as lifestyle habits and family history to provide an immediate assessment and recommendation for screening. The screening tool is anonymous, easy to use and takes only minutes to complete.
In addition to providing users with a screening assessment, the online tool is full of educational information about colon cancer, screening costs and insurance information, national colon cancer screening guidelines and a glossary of related terms and definitions. For anyone who is on the fence about getting screened or is hesitant about making the call to get more information, this tool is a perfect first step.
According to information provided by the organization, Rush Health Associates is a not for profit organization whose members include Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital and approximately 700 physicians who are on the medical staff of its hospital members. The goals of RHA health improvement programs are to encourage patients to be actively involved in their personal health and to give providers additional tools to manage their patient’s care. Primary care physicians are monitored on how many of their eligible patients have been screened for colon cancer. Feedback provided by primary care physicians within the RHA system indicated that since the actual screening guidelines vary based on individual characteristics such as family history and symptoms, many patients were unclear about whether or not a colon cancer screening procedure was necessary. The Colon Cancer Screening Tool was developed in cooperation with gastroenterology physicians so that patients could take the test and get a more specific action plan.
The Colon Cancer Screening Tool was developed several years ago solely for Rush Health Associates patients but recently has been made available on their public website so that anyone can take advantage of it. Theresa Burkhart, senior director at Rush Health Associates, encourages Colon Cancer Coalition readers to take the assessment. “The more people who take it the better!” she says.
