Do rural colonoscopies meet the quality of those done in the city?
Channel: RhPAP
Date: 2019-12-05

A research study headed by Dr. Michael Kolber from the University of Alberta sought to find the answer.

His team analyzed data collected from almost 2,000 colonoscopies performed by nine rural physicians who participated in the study.

The conclusion: "Rural family physician colonoscopists are currently performing high-quality colonoscopies - meeting or exceeding standard quality metrics."

As well, screening rates for rural communities offering colonoscopies are dramatically higher than the provincial average. Taber is a good example. Dr. Ryan Torrie and his team perform colonoscopies in this southern Alberta community. He says screening rates were 20% back when residents had to go to the city for a colonoscopy. Now, screening rates are 80% and incidents of colon cancer have dropped from 11 - 15 every year to just three.