Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
The purpose of the SC Communities Unite to Increase CRC Screening project is to increase colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) and complete follow-up to positive and/or abnormal CRCS findings within healthcare systems serving patients whose screening rates are below 60%. The long-term outcome of the project is to guide the systems in implementing sustainable practices and developing local community infrastructures that will lead to increased CRCS participation and the creation of comprehensive medical neighborhoods that support access to follow-up care. The project will work with 4 FQHC systems (29 clinics) and 1 hospital system primary care clinic to increase CRCS participation by improving processes and by implementing Evidence-Based Interventions (EBIs) known to increase screening participation. The 30 clinics are located in 15 counties where the incidence and mortality of CRC is high, CRCS is low, and racial disparities are significant particularly for African Americans. The project will target insured, medically underinsured, and uninsured individuals aged 50-74 who seek primary care services at the participating clinics, and who are not up-to-date with CRCS. Focus will be on three primary goals: (1.) conducting readiness and capacity assessments leading to the informed selection and implementation of at least 2 of the 4 EBIs described in “The Community Guide”; (2.) developing local and regional partnerships that result in sustainable medical neighborhoods supporting access to follow-up care for positive or abnormal CRCS findings; and (3.) carrying out rigorous program evaluation to assess progress, to identify barriers and constraints, and to devise strategies for improvement. Throughout the span of the project, partnering systems/clinics will develop strategic plans tuned to their particular environments and focused on increasing CRCS rates. They will conduct continuous quality improvement (CQI) and Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles in order t o maximize efforts, increase CRCS participation, address barriers to care, and improve data quality/validity with regard to CRCS outcomes. To achieve the goals mentioned above, the project will promote collaborations and enhanced learning opportunities using comprehensive technical assistance (TA) support. A two-pronged approach to TA will be utilized, and will include: (1.) individualized assistance to meet the specific needs of the clinics with regard to CRCS; and (2.) participation in a CRC Learning Collaborative (LC) organized and managed by ACS. The LC offers the ability to provide TA, education, and support in an environment centered around peer-to-peer learning and sharing of best practices. Using this two-pronged approach, the project will provide systems and their component clinics with on-going and real-time support that is critical to implementing strategies aimed at increasing referrals to CRCS and promoting its completion. The LC will encourage use of CQI and PDSA cycles in order to positively impact CRCS rates over time, and will become a hub to engage local stakeholders to partner and work together with the targeted clinics in the development of sustainable medical neighborhoods. Emerging from these neighborhoods will be strong networks of partners implementing mechanisms to facilitate referrals to CRCS and to arrange access to timely follow-up for positive or abnormal findings (e.g., by reducing structural barriers). To support successful accomplishment of these proposed activities, the project will ensure that rigorous and on-going process and outcome evaluation is undertaken. Clinics will receive support and resources to improve data collection and extraction, so as to increase the accuracy and fidelity of the data they gather Results of these evaluations will be disseminated on a regular basis to all partners in order to generate the necessary feedback that will allow the clinics and systems to adjust their intervention activities and improve thei r quality measures.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
