“Automated robocall reminders are an effective, potentially low-cost approach to appointment reminders in safety-net clinics,” Dr. Ipp explained to attendees. “Robocall almost eliminated the African American disparity seen with usual care in this population.”
Implementation of the robocalls is also relatively simple since the programs used to find the patients and create the calls are readily available, although investigators chose to gather the data for this study by hand, according to Dr. Ipp.
Screening rates in the United States are disconcertingly low, Dr. Ipp pointed out. While screening rates were around 70% in Medicare patients, rates among Medicaid and commercially insured patients hovered between 47.5%-54.9%, according to data collected by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Rates are especially low among minorities, as seen by a difference in screenings between minorities and non-Hispanic whites that ranged from 7% to15% during 2002-2009, according to a study cited by Dr. Ipp.
Dr. Ipp reported no relevant financial disclosures.
SOURCE: Mehranbod C et al. ENDO 2018, Abstract OR27-4.