Automated Time-Released Reminders Improve Patient Access to Colonoscopy

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Informatics
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Unscheduled colonoscopy orders represent missed opportunities for early cancer diagnosis and screening.
• Efficient scheduling is crucial for timely patient care and resource allocation in endoscopy units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an automated, time-released reminder system on the conversion of colonoscopy orders to scheduled appointments.
• To evaluate the efficiency gains and scheduling improvements associated with automated patient reminders.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study comparing an intervention group using automated text/email reminders with a historical control group.
• Reminders were sent at 1, 7, and 14 days post-order for the intervention group.
• Key metrics included colonoscopy scheduling within 14 and 30 days, and calls to endoscopy staff.

Main Results:

• Colonoscopies scheduled within 14 days increased from 66.0% (control) to 73.4% (intervention), p = .001.
• Scheduling within 30 days improved from 73.6% to 90.0% (p < .0001).
• For non-gastroenterologist orders, 30-day scheduling rose from 65.8% to 90.0% (p < .0001), with a 10% call reduction.

Conclusions:

• Automated time-released reminders effectively enhance colonoscopy scheduling efficiency.
• The system improves timely access to screening and diagnosis, particularly for referrals outside gastroenterology.
• Implementation of automated reminders optimizes endoscopy unit workflow and patient throughput.