Breast Cancer Screening
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States, and remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women overall, and is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women. Preventative screenings, beginning at age 50 can help to improve outcomes as early detection of breast cancer can reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer and can lead to a greater range of treatment options and lower health care costs. PCC Community Wellness Center is committed to helping patients take preventative measures to address their health, and therefore works to ensure that all patients are being screened appropriately. PCC monitors our breast cancer screening rates for all of our sites monthly to ensure that we are screening all patients as indicated. If you are over 50 and have not had a mammogram in the past 2 years, ask your healthcare team for a referral.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/index.htm
https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/breast-cancer-screening/
Controlling High Blood Pressure
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the leading cause of death across the United States. High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Controlling high blood pressure is an important step in preventing heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease and in reducing the risk of developing other serious conditions. Our providers help our patients manage their high blood pressure by prescribing medication and encouraging low-sodium diets, increased physical activity, and smoking cessation. PCC monitors our rates of patients with a diagnosis of hypertension to understand if their blood pressure is adequately controlled monthly to ensure that we are helping to reduce our patients’ health risks. If you have high blood pressure, please be sure to take your medicine on the day of the visit.
https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/heart-disease-and-stroke-statistics-2023-update
https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/controlling-high-blood-pressure/
Depression Screening and Follow-Up
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting an estimated 120 million people. Depression can impact both mental and physical health, and as such, our provider team works hard to ensure that patients 12 years and older are screened for clinical depression, and those who test positive are routed for follow-up care. PCC monitors our rate of positive screenings monthly to ensure that patients receive follow-up care within 30 days of a positive depression screen finding. The data below demonstrates the percentage of our patients who have been screened. As you likely have experienced when you come for a visit, we will ask you to complete this screening.
https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/depression-screening-and-follow-up-for-adolescents-and-adults/