{"id":67112,"date":"2024-03-19T15:16:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T19:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/?p=67112"},"modified":"2024-03-20T13:42:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T17:42:25","slug":"id-continuous-quality-improvement-project-calls-for-std-and-mammography-screening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/news\/id-continuous-quality-improvement-project-calls-for-std-and-mammography-screening\/","title":{"rendered":"ID Continuous Quality Improvement Project Calls For STD and Mammography Screening"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Division of Infectious Diseases has introduced a new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) project designed to increase STD and mammography screening in HIV positive cis-female<\/a> patients. As rates of STDs continue to rise in the U.S., with CDC data showing increases year after year, patients with HIV historically have lower rates of screening mammography<\/a>, not only because of their HIV status but also because of other social determinants of health. Having an HIV diagnosis offers opportunities for medical interactions that encourage mammography.<\/p>\n

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Mary Catherine Bowman, MD, PhD, and Gregory Rothchild, DO, PGY4, at the UNC Eastowne Clinic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Led by first-year infectious diseases fellow Gregory\u00a0Rothchild, DO, the CQI team chose to launch the project in March to coincide with Women\u2019s History Month.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompared to other North Carolina Ryan White Programs, STI and mammography screening rates are less than ideal at the UNC Eastowne Infectious Diseases Clinic,\u201d Rothchild said. \u201cOur CQI project outlines the need and a plan of action that will improve screening rates for STD and mammography in our HIV (+), cis-female patients.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"\u201cThe launch consists of a series of emails introduced over four weeks that outline clinic statistics and explain why screening is important. They also describe how we plan to implement a new patient questionnaire used as a reminder for providers to order screening.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Call to Increase Screening<\/h3>\n

The first email revealed the statistics of STD and mammography screening rates at UNC Eastowne Infectious Diseases Clinic vs other North Carolina Ryan White Programs, highlighting why the CQI project is particularly important to the Infectious Diseases group.<\/p>\n

Why We Care<\/h3>\n

The second email introduces a link to the \u201cClinical Practice Guidance\u201d for individuals with HIV. It explains why ID physicians need to order STI and mammogram screening.<\/p>\n