Announcing the 2016 80% by 2018 National Achievement Awards Honorees

Please join us in congratulating the 2016 80% by 2018 National Achievement Award Honorees!

The 80% by 2018 National Achievement Awards is a program designed to recognize individuals and organizations who are dedicating their time, talent and expertise to advancing needed initiatives that support the shared goal to regularly screen 80% of adults 50 and over by 2018. Read more about the awards program. 

Grand Prize: Coal Country Community Health Centers
Category: Community Health Center
Coal Country Community Health Centers, a three-clinic Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving over 7,800 patients in rural North Dakota, increased their colorectal cancer screening rate among age-eligible patients from 29% in 2012 to 70% in December 2015. Coal Country used the patient-centered medical home model to transform and systematize colorectal cancer screening, including implementing a team-based approach, pre-visit planning, opportunistic screening during acute care visits, reminders and recall, and a flu-FIT (fecal immunochemical test) clinic. Coal Country is also providing leadership in their community by sharing best practices with other local FQHCs.

Honoree: Phoebe Putney Health System
Category: Hospital
Phoebe Putney Health System, a not-for-profit integrated healthcare delivery system that serves more than 500,000 residents in Southwest Georgia, has been an integral partner in the Cancer Coalition of South Georgia’s efforts to address the comprehensive cancer control needs of the region. Phoebe partners with Albany Area Primary Health Care, a large FQHC serving a rural and underserved population, to deliver colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic colorectal services. Phoebe has implemented an extensive patient navigation program, conducts numerous community awareness and public education campaigns each year, and provides academic detailing in FQHCs and physician offices using evidence-based tools. Between 2007 to 2014, Phoebe provided 2,616 colonoscopies to uninsured patients, leading to the diagnosis of 14 early stage cancers and the removal of adenomatous polyps in over 1,000 patients.

Honoree: Premier Medical Associates
Category: Physician Practice
Premier Medical Associates, the largest multi-specialty physician practice in the Greater Pittsburgh area, increased colorectal cancer screening among age-eligible patients from 57.5% in 2012 to 80% in December 2015. Premier transformed colorectal cancer screening in their practices by making systematic changes to recommend screening at all patient visits and offer patients a choice of colonoscopy or FIT. Premier also implemented a real-time screening registry, mailed FIT, reminders and recall, and assessment of provider screening performance, with celebrations each time a provider reaches 80%. These changes have led to an additional 4,828 patients screened for colorectal cancer since January 2013.

Honoree: South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority
Category: Health Plan
The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) provides health plan services to employees and retirees of South Carolina’s state agencies, public school districts, colleges and universities, and many local governments. In 2015, PEBA voted to remove all financial barriers to colorectal cancer screening for its 128,000 eligible members over 50 years of age in an effort to increase their screening rate (55% in 2015). PEBA removed all out-of-pocket cost for routine screenings and diagnostic colonoscopies for its members, including any fees associated with the consultation, prep kit, procedure and anesthesia. To promote this new benefit, PEBA is currently hosting regional lunch-and-learn workshops with local gastroenterologists, and has developed digital turnkey marketing and educational materials that employers can use at the workplace.

Honoree: Tina Kiser Cancer Concern Coalition of Ohio
Category: Cancer Coalition/State Roundtable
Starting nearly 10 years ago, the Tina Kiser Cancer Concern Coalition (TKC3), under the direction of Dr. Michael Sarap, began a program to improve education to the public and to primary care providers about the value of colorectal cancer screening. Outreach efforts are concentrated in a four-part approach: community education, providing underserved patients with free and reduced cost screening tests, physician education, and awareness. These efforts have contributed to a remarkable decrease in late stage colorectal cancer rates. The late stage rate in Guernsey County has dropped from 60% of cases 10 years ago to 12% in 2014. TKC3 attributes much of its success to its strong partnerships with the community, the American Cancer Society, primary care and specialty providers, and to Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, which has provided over 500 free colonoscopies.

Also, check the 80% by 2018 Blog for upcoming posts that profile their efforts.