New report indicates that struggling economy may have reduced use of preventive care

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A new report released by non-profit health care organization MN Community Measurement, indicates that the struggling economy may have reduced the use of preventive care, including breast cancer screenings and childhood immunizations, as well as the on-going care needed for chronic diseases like diabetes and vascular disease.

In two areas – controlling high blood pressure and appropriate testing before children are given antibiotics for a sore throat (pharyngitis) – there was improvement. For example, statewide 72 percent of Minnesotans had their blood pressure under control in 2010, compared to 69 percent in 2009. But for care for chronic conditions like diabetes and vascular disease, the quality of care stayed mostly flat, and preventive care like breast cancer screenings and childhood immunizations decreased slightly or stayed flat.

"It's important to note that even small improvements can translate into better care for thousands of patients," said Jim Chase, president of MN Community Measurement.  "Almost 9,000 more Minnesotans with diabetes are avoiding the serious complications of that disease than were in 2007, because they are working with their doctors to meet evidence-based treatment goals like controlling their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol."