Category: Policy Maker/Elected Leader

Representative Fred Allen is a fifth term legislator in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. As a stage IV prostate cancer survivor, Representative Allen understands how important it is to have access to timely, quality cancer screening, diagnostic follow up, and treatment. However, as of 2014, colorectal cancer screening in Arkansas ranked 46^th in the nation despite being one of 12 states with a cluster of counties experiencing significantly high death rates from colorectal cancer. As a result, Representative Allen partnered with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to lead a legislative effort to improve access and funding for colorectal cancer screening in Arkansas. Act 655, signed into law on April 2, 2019, established the Arkansas Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative and provides $500,000 in new funding for colorectal cancer screening, education, diagnostic, and treatment services with priority given to uninsured and underinsured individuals across the state.

View a short video representing Representative Allen’s work.

Category: Cancer Center

The NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (DLDCCC) at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, engages with community partners to improve access to cancer screening and prevention among the medically underserved. In collaboration with Harris Health System, a safety net healthcare provider, and community clinics, the DLDCCC implements multi-level interventions to increase cancer screening and primary prevention. Its colorectal cancer screening program includes community outreach, culturally and linguistically tailored educational materials, point-of-care patient education videos, patient navigation services, and provider and staff training. Since 2010, DLDCCC has achieved an over 250% increase in the proportion of age-eligible patients who complete a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) at Harris Health. In 2018, DLDCCC navigated 5,422 patients with an abnormal FIT to diagnostic follow-up, educated 21,686 patients about colorectal cancer screening, and distributed FIT kits and instruction sheets to 74,583 patients. Through its Community Theater program, the DLDCCC raises awareness about cancer screening and early detection at community venues in medically underserved areas.

View a short video describing DLDCCC’s work.

Category: Community Health Center

Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) is a tribally owned and operated health care organization serving 20 tribes in the Bering Strait region, a 44,000 square-mile section of northwestern Alaska. The Alaska Native population that NSHC serves has significantly higher colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates compared with national averages. NSHC patients also experience significant barriers to screening; most patients live below 200% of the Federal Poverty level, many communities are only accessible by airplane, and five villages do not have running water or sewer. Despite these challenges, NSHC has been able to increase colorectal cancer screening rates from 7% in 2013 to 70.5% in 2019. NSHC proactively identifies patients in need of screening, offers patients a choice of screening tests, provides stool tests with no out of pocket costs, offers colonoscopy screening each month in the Nome clinic, and coordinates all of the necessary arrangements including travel, housing, food, and escorts for patients that need to travel for a colonoscopy.

Category: Community Health Center

North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) is the largest health center in New Jersey with 10 delivery sites located in Hudson, Bergen and Passaic counties. NHCAC, a certified Patient Centered Medical Home, has made colorectal cancer screening a priority across its health centers which serve over 86,000 predominately Hispanic/Latino patients. After receiving an American Cancer Society grant to accelerate the existing work that the health center was doing to increase colorectal cancer screening in 2014, NHCAC implemented a number of evidence-based systems changes, including patient navigation, patient and provider reminders, and reduction of structural barriers including transportation and client costs. Screening eligible patients also received a screening recommendation at all health center visits, including dental and behavior health, to avoid critical, missed opportunities. As a result, NHCAC reached an 84% screening rate in 2018, achieving the 80% goal and dramatically improving access to quality preventative care for the community they serve.

View a short video describing NHCAC’s work.

Category: Cancer Coalition/State Roundtable

The North Dakota Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NDCCRT), co-led by the American Cancer Society and the North Dakota Department of Health, is a statewide coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing the incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer in North Dakota, through coordinated leadership and strategic planning. Prior to the NDCCRT’s formation in 2015, North Dakota had some of the lowest screening rates in the nation. With participation from numerous partners, including community health centers, health plans, integrated delivery systems, the primary care association, the Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, the Indian Health Services, and the North Dakota Medical Association, NDCCRT partners have worked together to forge a coordinated, collaborative, and focused prioritization of colorectal cancer screening across the state. Coordinated activities focused on provider education, public awareness, and access to care. Colorectal cancer screening in North Dakota has increased from 58% in 2012 to 67% in 2018, making it one of the most improved states in the nation.

View a short video describing NDCCRT’s work.