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System Strategies for Colorectal Cancer Screening at Federally Qualified Health Centers
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

System Strategies for Colorectal Cancer Screening at Federally Qualified Health Centers

Jeanette M Daly, Barcey T Levy, Carol A Moss and Camden P Bay
American journal of public health (1971), Vol.105(1), pp.212-219
01/2015
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301790
PMCID: PMC4250445
PMID: 24832146
url
https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301790View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objectives. We assessed the protocols and system processes for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in 4 midwestern states. Methods. We identified 49 FQHCs in 4 states. In January 2013, we mailed their medical directors a 49-item questionnaire about policies on CRC screening, use of electronic medical records, types of CRC screening recommended, clinic tracking systems, referrals for colonoscopy, and barriers to providing CRC. Results. Forty-four questionnaires (90%) were returned. Thirty-three of the respondents (75%) estimated the proportion of their patients up-to-date with CRC screening, with a mean of 35%. One major barrier to screening was inability to provide colonoscopy for patients with a positive fecal occult blood test (59%). The correlation of system strategies and estimated percentage of patients up-to-date with CRC screening was 0.43 (P = .01). Conclusions. CRC system strategies were associated with higher CRC screening rates. Implementing system strategies for CRC screening takes time and effort and is important to maintain, to help prevent, or to cure many cases of CRC, the second leading cause of cancer in the United States.

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