IOWA Decorah Clinic, along with many other healthcare providers, is continuing to expand early screening and prevention programs to help decrease suffering and loss of life for people from certain diseases. This can include asking questions that seem a little out of the ordinary, such as do you smoke or have you been screened for colon cancer. He cites numerous cases where regular screening for colon cancer has resulted in early detection and beginning treatment immediately has resulted in positive outcomes. Cancer isn t the only disease that can be impacted positively by early detection.
Smoking is another example of how early treatment options can have a big impact on outcomes.
Because an estimated 70 percent of smokers visit a physician each year, physicians have an opportunity to promote smoking cessation. Medical evidence indicates that patients who stop smoking see improvements in their lungs very quickly. Medical studies confirm that advice and support from healthcare professionals are powerful influences in stopping tobacco use. Decorah Clinic has multiple options for treatment to stop smoking, including oral medications, nicotine replacement therapy and the nicotine dependence program. By screening better, we know what are the best treatment options and who might be the best team of providers to guide a patient to quit nicotine successfully.