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Management of urethritis in health maintenance organization
members receiving care at a multispecialty group practice in Massachusetts.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2001;28(4):232-235.
Ratelle S, Yokoe D, Whelan M, Tang Y, Platt R, Blair R, Tao G, Irwin
K.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cost containment has led to a concern that health maintenance organization-insured
patients presenting with complaints of urethritis may be treated without
being tested. GOAL: To determine the proportion of men presenting with symptoms
of urethritis who are tested for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
STUDY DESIGN: Reviews were performed on 196 randomly selected patient records
with an outpatient visit and a diagnostic code consistent with urethritis
between 1995 and 1997. Data were collected on demographics, diagnostic testing,
and treatment. RESULTS: Diagnostic testing for C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae
was performed, respectively, in 92.3% and 83.2% of the men presenting at
an initial visit with complaints of urethritis. Altogether, 98.2% of the
patients who met the Centers for Disease Control criteria for documenting
urethritis were tested for C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic
testing for C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae is nearly universal in this multispecialty
group practice setting, facilitating surveillance and public health efforts.