Improving STD Screening Rates on a University Campus.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections have a high incidence among young adults. To increase screening rates among individuals aged 25 years of age and younger on a university campus, this quality improvement project was implemented to improve providers' knowledge of CDC guidelines through education. Education was provided to providers and staff members at a health clinic on a private residential university campus through informational sessions to increase knowledge of guideline-directed screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia. This education was coupled with a multifaceted approach for provider-reminder interventions: flagging patients in the EHR system that fall within the age group (25 years of age and younger) to generate an alert, patients completing a questionnaire while in the exam room, and identification of a project champion. Screening rates were evaluated during pre- and post-implementation phases to determine if a change in practice occurred among providers. Post-intervention revealed the average number of patients screened for gonorrhea and chlamydia was 65.85% (349/530). This change represented a marked increase from pre-intervention screening of 2% (11/405). The testing rate increased during the post-intervention phase to 17.86% (65/364), up from 7.90% (32/405) pre-implementation. Provider education on guideline-directed screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia increased screening among providers at a university health clinic. This intervention, combined with provider-reminder interventions, increased screening of patients, leading to an increased testing rate for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Effectiveness of an on-site health clinic at a self-insured university: a cost-benefit analysis.

This study assessed the impact and cost-effectiveness of an on-site health clinic at a self-insured university. Health care costs and number of claims filed to primary care providers were trended before and after the clinic was established to determine savings. A retrospective chart review of all full-time, insured employees treated for upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) during a 1-year study period was conducted. On-site clinic costs for the treatment of URIs were compared to costs at outside community providers for similar care. Community cost norms for the treatment of URIs were provided by Primary Physicians Care, the administrator of insurance claims for the University. A cost-benefit analysis compared the cost of services on-site versus similar services at an outside community provider. Based on the results of this study, the University's on-site health care services were determined to be more cost-effective than similar off-site health care services for the treatment of URIs. [Workplace Health Saf 2014;62(4):162-169.].