Collaborative Approach to Increasing CRC Screening

About

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer diagnosed in Wisconsin and the second leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the state. 1 Early detection and screening can detect colorectal cancer in its earliest stages increasing the success of treatment and reducing mortality (death) from the disease.  In 2012, 72% of Wisconsin adults were considered ‘up-to-date’ on their colorectal cancer screening yet local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) who serve a high population of African American, Hispanic and Hmong men and women living below the poverty line in the Milwaukee area, their CRC screening rate was around 34%. 

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Aims

Target Population
Patients aged 50-75 years old who seek their medical care from one of the Milwaukee area FQHCs. Many of these patients are urban, African American, Hispanic and Hmong men and women living below the poverty line.​

Partner with all Milwaukee Federally Qualified Health Centers to increase colorectal cancer screening rates to coincide with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) initiative of reaching  80% screening rate by 2018. Strategies include:

• Establish CRC clinic teams and champions in each FQHC to partner with CUPH staff to assess their baseline CRC screening rate.
• Improve organizational policies and impact systems change within Milwaukee FQHCs that will increase screening rates and decrease disparities in screening and colorectal mortality by adoption of evidence based interventions (EBIs) such as provider reminders, patient reminders, and patient navigation.
• Work with evaluation team to develop a five year evaluation plan to assess process and outcome measures.

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Expected Outcomes

The overarching outcome of this national effort is to improve systems and health care practice in order to improve colorectal cancer screening. The national goal is to reach 80% screening rate by 2018.

Each partner clinic and health system will assess their situation and select the appropriate strategies to implement and evaluate.
 
Supported Evidence Based Interventions

• Patient reminder systems
• Provider reminder systems
• Reducing structural barriers
• Provider assessment and feedback

Supporting Strategies

• Patient navigation
• Small media
• Health information technology
• Professional development/education
• Community-clinical linkages

Project Materials

CRC Fact Sheet

Program Final Report

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Partners

Federally Qualified Health Center Partners

• Access Community Health Centers
• Kenosha Community Health Center, Inc.
• Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.
• Outreach Community Health Centers
• Progressive Community Health Centers
• Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers
• Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
• Walker’s Point Community Clinic

 
Additional Partners

• University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC)
• American Cancer Society (ACS)
• City of Milwaukee Health Department
• Wisconsin Primary Care Association

Team

Principal Investigator
Noelle LoConte, MD
 
Project Staff
Allison Antoine, CHES
Michelle Corbett, MPH, CHES
Carrie Stehman, MS
David Frazer, MPH