This Blue Star Conversation held on September 11, 2023, features a brief presentation by Daniel Reuland, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; and  Program Director, Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, on a recent study: Uptake of colorectal cancer screening after mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) outreach in a newly eligible 45-49-year-old community health center population. Speakers will also provide updates on trends in colorectal cancer screening in community health centers and recently released resources to support health center work to increase CRC screening, including the Steps For Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: A Manual For Primary Care Practices. This program was hosted by the ACS NCCRT Community Health Center Strategic Priority Team. Afterwards, participants discussed greatest barriers and solutions to increasing CRC screening in the newly eligible population.

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

Key Links:

• The newly updated NCCRT Steps Guide for Increasing CRC Screening in Primary Care provides evidence-based, expert-endorsed strategies to improve colorectal cancer screening rates in primary care practices. It also includes 10 exemplary primary care practice site case studies, seven of which profile health centers.
• The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors’ Mailed FIT Implementation Guide and Mailed FIT Online Course provide a roadmap for how health systems and other health entities can design and carry out mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) outreach programs.
• National health center UDS CRC screening rate data trends can be found on the NCCRT’s Data & Progress webpage. You can also visit HRSA’s Health Center Program Uniform Data System (UDS) Data webpage to find rates by state and health center system.