Published in the journal Cancer investment. Here is a link to the article.
Regenstrief Institute author: Paul I. Musey, M.D., M.S.
The content below has been provided by the first author on the paper Nicholas Pettit, DO, PhD.
Regenstrief Institute’s Role in the Multi-Center Study
Regenstrief Institute led data curation across 11 emergency departments, enabling consistent analysis of screening adherence and identification of system-wide gaps in cancer prevention.
Implications for Health Systems Improving Cancer Screening Rates
These findings suggest that health systems should view the emergency department as a strategic touchpoint for identifying patients who are overdue for guideline-recommended cancer screening, particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. Health systems seeking to improve screening rates should consider implementing EHR-based identification tools, targeted referral pathways, and ED-initiated education or navigation programs to address disparities and close preventive care gaps at scale.
Alignment with Learning Health System Principles
This project reflects the principles of a learning health system by leveraging electronic health record data from 11 emergency departments to generate actionable knowledge about gaps in guideline-concordant cancer screening within routine clinical care . By identifying high-risk populations and disparities within the health system, the study creates an evidence base to inform targeted, ED-based interventions and supports an ongoing cycle of data-driven quality improvement .
The Role of Multi-System Collaboration in Addressing Cancer Prevention Disparities
Multi-system collaboration can reduce disparities in cancer prevention by pooling data across diverse emergency departments to identify inequities in screening, align targeted outreach strategies, and implement coordinated, system-wide interventions that better reach high-risk and historically underserved populations.
Authors:
Nicholas R Pettit 1, Matthew Hays 2, Xiaochun Li 2, Jacquiline Wiltshire 2, Paul Musey 1
Affiliations Collapse
Affiliations
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
2Indiana University School of Medicine and Richard M Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.




