As part of a series, the ACS NCCRT is thrilled to highlight our 2024 80% in Every Community National Achievement Award Winners with in depth blogs on their work. Below you’ll find the third of five interviews with awardees about what they did to increase colorectal cancer screening (CRC) rates as well as their lessons learned from their efforts.

Quick Stats

Organization: Unity Medical Center

Location: Grafton, North Dakota

Interviewees:

• Kristen Pastorek, RN, Surgery Manager, Assistant Director of Nursing
• Kari Novak, LPN, Clinic Manager
• Merideth Bell, Quality and Patient Experience Director

The Interview

When and why did Unity Medical Center decide to focus on increasing colorectal cancer screening?

While attending a healthcare conference in 2022, we listened to a presentation discussing the devastation caused by colorectal cancer (CRC) in North Dakota. After speaking with Nikki Medalen and the ScreeND team from Quality Health Associates of North Dakota, we felt compelled to better serve our patients through improved cancer screening. We formed a team and the next day we embarked on the journey toward increasing CRC screening in patients aged 45-75.

Did you set a colorectal cancer screening goal? If so, what was it, and how did you measure it? What was the final outcome?

Our initial screening rate was 41% in October 2022 and our goal was then set as 60% for patients 45-75 years old, but we achieved that goal very quickly. We decided to reach higher and pursue the same goal as the American Cancer Society NCCRT, which is 80% in every community across the nation. Our 2024 year-to-date screening rate for patients 45-75 years old is currently 71.5%. This includes patients screened using stool testing and/or colonoscopies.

Did you have a colorectal cancer screening champion for your efforts on staff or in the community? If so, who were they, and how did you engage them?

In 2022, we formed a multidisciplinary team of staff at Unity Medical Center (UMC), consisting of Kari Novak, Kristen Pastorek, Dr. Jared Marquardt, and Merideth Bell. This core group organized the program, and we have since added members from additional areas of UMC, including other providers, administrators, marketing and Health Information Management (HIM).

What interventions or activities did you use to increase colorectal cancer screening rates?

We have developed new ways of reaching patients through:

• Birthday cards for our patients turning 45 years old,
• Gift bags for those scheduling CRC screenings in March, CRC Awareness Month,
• Employee surveys,
• Quarterly provider recognition for those with the highest CRC screening percentage,
• Hosting and sponsoring community events and contests,
• Facility wide staff participation in wearing CRC t-shirts in the month of March,
• Working with our area developmental facilities to provide screening options for underserved patients, and
• Offering education to community parent groups at kids’ events while their children run through the Rollin’ Colon, a pink, 20-foot-long inflatable tunnel. This is a fun and educational visual that we borrowed from the ScreeND team. While “walking through the colon”, people are able to learn about the signs and symptoms of CRC; they will see giant polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and the different stages of CRC.

Our team continues to develop ideas to get the message about the importance of screening to our patients. We are also committee members of the North Dakota State Colorectal Cancer Coalition where we can share with and learn from other field leaders.

What do you consider your greatest success while working to increase colorectal cancer screening rates?

The patients that we serve are our top priority. The lives saved and the early diagnoses made through screening and even the education that we’ve introduced are the most significant wins. With support from all staff employed at UMC our program is stronger than it ever has been. We are very grateful to have been selected for the 2024 80% in Every Community National Achievement Award by the ACS NCCRT.

What was your biggest lesson learned while working to increase colorectal cancer screening rates?

Our team paid particular attention to how we could use the electronic medical record tools we already had in place to efficiently collect data, communicate between staff, and interact with our patients. Though our work was focused on increasing CRC screening, we learned that we can also use the same strategies and reporting blueprints to improve other quality metrics that we are focused on. This included implementing new policies and standing orders. We are excited about the opportunities ahead as we strive to provide our patients with the best comprehensive care close to home!

What else would you want others to know about how you increased colorectal cancer screening rates?

Relying on the individual strengths of team members is key to our success. We came together focused on goals to improve CRC screening rates and make an impact. Fortunately, we have a surgeon as well as two family practice providers who have specialized training to provide colonoscopies on staff. Because of this we are able to offer colonoscopies on a weekly basis for our patients as well as those living in the surrounding communities. Coordinating schedules to allow for streamlined workflows and short patient wait-times for procedures has resulted in great patient and staff satisfaction.

The ACS NCCRT would like to thank the Unity Medical Center team for their time to complete this interview. Unity Medical Center‘s work to increase CRC screening rates earned them an Honoree slot for the 2024 80% in Every Community National Achievement Awards. Learn more about Unity Medical Center by visiting their website.