Blue Star Conversations – May 17, 2023

On May 17th, 2023, the NCCRT’s NCCRT Professional Education & Practice Implementation (PEPI) Strategic Priority Team hosted the latest Blue Star Conversation, an interactive program for NCCRT members and CDC grantees. The latest session highlighted a short presentation by Elizabeth Ciemins, PhD, MPH, MA, Vice President of Research and Analytics at AMGA (American Medical Group Association), on rates of follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based screening test from the recent Jama New Open publication, Rates of Follow-up Colonoscopy After a Positive Stool-Based Screening Test Result for Colorectal Cancer Among Health Care Organizations in the US, 2017-2020. Afterwards, participants discussed potential opportunities and challenges to overcome barriers affecting follow-up colonoscopy.

Visit NCCRT’s Events & Webinars page to find information about upcoming programs and events.

Key links:

• NCCRT’s newly updated Steps Guide for Increasing CRC Screening in Primary Care includes sample letters and call scripts to communicate positive (abnormal) stool test results and the need for follow up colonoscopy to patients.
• NCCRT’s Colonoscopy Needs Calculator allows primary care systems to estimate the number of colonoscopies needed with increased stool-based screening, which can be helpful to use in negotiating with gastroenterology practices or hospitals/health systems to provide a limited number of free or reduced cost exams.
• Learn about the AMGA’s CRC Screening Best Practices Learning Collaborative.