Gaps in preventive care remain

The U.S. health-care system got mixed reviews in a recent federal report: overall quality is improving, but not enough Americans are getting preventive health screenings.

First, the good news: hospital care for heart attack victims improved 15 percent, for example, and vaccinations for children, adolescents and the elderly improved by 6 percent, according to the 2006 National Healthcare Quality Report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

But in other areas, such as colorectal cancer screening, significant improvement opportunities remain. Only 52 percent of adults, for example, received recommended colorectal cancer screenings, according to the report.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Univera Healthcare and the American Cancer Society urge all people to be vigilant about being tested for colon cancer - especially as Baby Boomers age and increasingly need such screenings.

The medical evidence is compelling: regular testing saves lives. When colon cancer is detected in its earliest stages, the survival rate is about 90 percent. One of the screening tests, colonoscopy, may prevent the cancer from forming by removing precancerous polyps.

People age 50 and older, for example, should review colorectal cancer screening options with their doctor.

Comprehensive recommendations for preventive health screenings for adults are available on the Web at www.health ierus.gov/prevention.html and www. cancer. org.

But prevention is more than health screenings and testing. It must include a healthy lifestyle of exercise, good nutrition, optimal weight and healthy behaviors. Univera Healthcare remains committed to continually enhancing programs that foster wellness and health promotion, such as our tobacco cessation program, "Quit for Life," or our weight management program, "Take Steps." Information on these programs is also available at www.univerahealth care.com.

Dr. Richard Vienne Regional medical director

Univera Healthcare