March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The most important thing you can do to help prevent colorectal cancer is to get a colonoscopy. Dr. Terry L. Baldwin, M.D. of the Illinois Gastroenterology Institute helped design Quest's Quality Colonoscopy public report.

Research shows that scheduling babies for delivery prior to 39 weeks gestation is connected to a higher likelihood of death, admittance to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and life-long health problems.

Yet, an astonishing number of deliveries occur too early with no medical need – 23 percent in Illinois, according to the Leapfrog Group. The numbers show wide variation among hospitals.

The Healthy Babies, Healthy Moms team wants to eliminate early elective deliveries in Illinois. 

In observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 4 to 10), Quest continues its reporting of the percentage of vaccinated employees at regional hospitals with the Flu Shot Percentage Report for the 2011-2012 flu season. It starts with October 2011 data and will be updated monthly through March 2012.

Recently, Quest was asked why the charge for an MRI test (Magnetic Resonance Image) would be different from center to center.

"I'm curious why there is such a big difference in the cost of an MRI. I had one done recently billed at $4500.00. That is almost double what most other places charge. Aren't these costs regulated? I wouldn't think that one machine would be better than everyone else's."

Participation on the Quality Quest High Tech Diagnostic Imaging Team proved to be a valuable personal experience that has significantly influenced aspects of my professional practice behavior.  I have long appreciated the invaluable diagnostic benefits derived from high-tech imaging (HTI) studies and the skill of those who provide expert interpretation.  However, from my experience with this team, I discovered there was much for me to learn and revisit regarding several of the adverse considerations associated with HTI studies.