Patient Navigators Boost Colon Screens in Urban Minorities

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His point is supported by the second study in which researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City, and the City University of New York provided 532 colonoscopy patients with a patient navigator. Of these patients, 67 percent went to their colonoscopies, and only 5 percent of them had inadequate bowel preparation. The no-show rate among urban minorities also fell from an average of 40 percent (prior to the navigator program) to 9.8 percent.

"Our results show that introducing a patient navigator is effective in increasing colonoscopy completion rates in urban minorities, which not only directly benefits the patient, but should translate into greater efficiency and cost savings for endoscopy units," Dr. Steven H. Itzkowitz, of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

More information

The National Cancer Institute has more about colorectal screening.