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Home > Performance Reports > Delivering the Right Care > Colonoscopy Interval for Patients with a History of Polyps

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Colonoscopy Interval for Patients with a History of Polyps

What are we measuring and why?

A colonoscopy is an exam used to detect abnormal growth or disease in the lower intestine and rectum. It is commonly used to screen for precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends beginning colonoscopies at age 50; however, performing these exams too frequently can increase patients’ exposure to procedural risks and overuse medical resources. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a set of measures to assess whether hospitals are performing colonoscopy screenings within the recommended follow up timeframes, according to patient risk status.

How are we doing and how do we compare to best practice?

Patients who are above the age of 17 and have a history of precancerous polyps are considered high-risk. For this population, the recommended colonoscopy screening interval varies by individual depending on the size, type, and number of polyps previously removed. However, experts generally recommend waiting at least three years before repeating an exam. MGH reported a 95% compliance rate in 2017, compared to the national average of 90%. This represents the percentage of high-risk patients who received a surveillance colonoscopy at MGH no sooner than three years following their last exam.  

 

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