Friday, March 4, 2016 [Pittsburgh, PA] –- The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has named Premier Medical Associates (PMA) an honoree for this year’s 80% by 2018 National Achievement Awards. Premier was selected from a competitive pool of nominated organizations, companies and individuals nationwide for targeted efforts and subsequent progress towards reaching an 80% national colon cancer screening rate by the year 2018.
Premier’s dedicated efforts increased colorectal cancer screening among age-eligible patients from 57.5% in 2012 to 80% in December 2015.
“I am very proud of the results of this screening program that required dedicated efforts by the entire care team from Premier,” says Dr. Frank Colangelo, Chief Quality Officer for Premier.
“We knew we had to improve our screening rates to help reduce the chance that our patients will suffer from late staged colon cancer.”
In an effort to help increase the number of colorectal cancer screenings in the region, Premier Medical Associates participated in the “80% by 2018” initiative, committed to eliminate colorectal cancer as a major public health problem with vigilant dedication to the goal of reaching 80% of adults age 50 and older screened for colorectal cancer by 2018. Premier transformed colorectal cancer screening in their practices by making systematic changes to recommend screening at all patient visits and offer patients a choice of colonoscopy or FIT.
Premier also implemented a real-time screening registry, mailed FIT, reminders and recall, and assessment of provider screening performance, with celebrations each time a provider reaches 80%. These changes have led to an additional 4,828 patients screened for colorectal cancer since January 2013.
The vital programs and services provided to Premier’s patients is part of a comprehensive building better care model that continues to make strides in health care. Mark DeRubeis, Premier CEO, explains, “Premier is leading, in this region and across the country, by showing all that is truly possible in the way of better care for patients. Our success isn’t measured by a few special testimonials. We have the better health of thousands of patients and the numbers to prove it.”
About Premier Medical Associates
With a focus on building better care, Premier Medical Associates is the largest multi-specialty practice in the Greater Pittsburgh area that reaches the lives of more than 100,000 patients with access to one hundred providers and twenty-two specialties. In a healthcare environment of constant change, the physicians at Premier Medical Associates are committed to preventive care and creating value for every dollar a patient spends on healthcare. Premier’s goal is to build a close, long-term relationship between patient and physician that will reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and lead to healthier lives.
Formed in 1993, Premier Medical Associates has a team of one hundred healthcare providers in ten convenient locations offering specialties that include: allergy & immunology, audiology & hearing aid services, behavioral health, cardiology, dermatology, electrophysiology, endocrinology, family medicine, foot & ankle surgery, gastroenterology, general & breast surgery, hospitalists, infectious disease, internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, pain management, pediatrics, podiatry, pulmonology, radiology, rheumatology and sleep medicine.
For more information about our philosophy of healthcare, team of physicians and locations, please go to www.premiermedicalassociates.com or call 412-457-0060.
