CDPHE's Appproch to Colorectal Cancer Control - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is pleased to submit an application for DP25-0012, Changing Health Systems Using Evidence-based Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening. CDPHE will engage stakeholders in implementing strategies that increase community demand, access, and provider delivery of CRC screening. CDPHE will accelerate progress by using surveillance and Colorado Cancer Registry data to identify supporting partners, partner clinics, and high-burden populations with low screening prevalence and high incidence and mortality rates, and geographic areas lacking access to follow-up colonoscopies. CDPHE is prepared to quickly build on the successful implementation of CDC’s DP20-2002 cooperative agreement to address CRC by continuing to support Federally Qualified Health Centers and safety net clinics that serve the high-burden populations, close CRC screening differences, and improve completion of follow-up colonoscopies. CDPHE will develop a regional Links of Care network whereby partner health systems will coordinate care and referrals for colonoscopies, including follow-up colonoscopies. Additionally, CDPHE will maximize efforts of an existing CRC task force and supporting partners to guide and provide technical assistance to partner clinics to achieve the three primary outcomes of this funding opportunity while implementing policies and systems to meet intermediate and long-term goals. CDPHE will achieve the primary five-year period of performance short-term outcomes to 1) increase implementation and enhancement of Evidence-Based Interventions, 2) increase stool test kits returned and colonoscopy procedures completed, and 3) increase CRC screening prevalence in partner clinics. This will be accomplished by implementation of the following strategies: Strategy 1: Establish and enhance partnerships between primary care clinics, supporting partners, and the community; Strategy 2: Support the implementation of evidence-based interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening; Strategy 3: Conduct monitoring and evaluation that ensure data quality; and Strategy 4: Support completion of stool-based tests, as well as colonoscopies for positive stool-based tests. Colorado expects an increase in on-time CRC screenings among partner clinics and regional partnerships that support follow-up colonoscopies, leading to an eventual decline in late-stage CRC diagnosis, incidence, and mortality.
