Reports From the Field: Pap smears not necessary for some women
The U. S. Preventive Service Task Force has concluded that women older than 65 who have always had regular normal Pap smears may not benefit from continued routine screenings.
At the same time, the task force continued to recommend regular cervical cancer screening for women three years after they begin sexual activity or at the age of 21. They recommend that screenings continue through age 65.
The task force concluded that the harm of false positive tests and invasive procedures may outweigh the benefits of screening in older women. It recommended against screening for women who have had a total hysterectomy for a noncancerous condition.
Their recommendations are consistent with guidelines from the American Cancer Society, which recommends annual screening until age 30 and screening once every two to three years after that.
They pointed out that the most cervical cancer occurs in women who have never been screened or who do not have appropriate follow-up after a normal Pap smear and called on health plans, clinicians, and hospitals to identify and screen women who have had inadequate screening and follow up. For more information, see www.ahrq.gov.
Conference targets quality in case management
Experts will share their proven ideas for successful case management at the 8th Annual Hospital Case Management Conference, Delivering on the Promise of Case Management: Making an Impact in a Challenging Health Care Environment, to be held April 27-29, 2003, in Atlanta.
The conference is sponsored by American Health Consultants, publisher of Hospital Case Management. The timely topics offer something for every hospital-based case manager, social worker, or quality professional. A faculty of case management experts will address issues including:
- Skills and Tools for the Effective Case Management Director
- Finding the Right Software and Getting the Right Data
- Engaging and Closing the Performance Loop with Physicians
- Integrating Practice Guidelines into Patient Care
- Identifying Organizational and Clinical Outcomes/Variances — How to Find Them, How to Use them
- Integrating Prospective Payment and Managed Care Reimbursement Systems with Case Management
- Quantifying Emergency Department Case Management
- Reimbursement Update for Case Managers
- How Social Workers can Optimize a Disease Management Initiative
- Using Comparative Performance Data as Catalyst for Positive Change
- Supporting Creativity and Compassion in the New Health Care Environment
- Nurse Case Manager and Social Worker Collaboration
Each session sets aside time to ask the experts the questions that interest you most. Up to 19 hours of nursing CE will be offered, as well as case management clock hours and critical care credits. The conference fee includes a networking reception, continental breakfasts, lunches, a course manual, and a form exchange for attendees.
For information, contact American Health Consultants, Customer Service, P.O. Box 740056, Atlanta, GA 30374. Phone: (800) 688-2421. Fax: (800) 284-3291. E-mail: [email protected].
The U. S. Preventive Service Task Force has concluded that women older than 65 who have always had regular normal Pap smears may not benefit from continued routine screenings.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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