Strengthening Tribal Health Systems: Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Access Project - Strengthening Tribal Health Systems; Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Access Project The purpose of the ITCM Strengthening Tribal Health Systems: Increasing Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Access Project is to utilize patient navigation, evidence-based interventions (EBI), and to support tribal health systems in building robust capacity for high quality E.H.R. data systems. The project approach includes 1) Fostering partnerships with multiple tribal health systems, primary care and FQHC clinics, and local and state and national health systems to implement at least 3 evidence-based interventions from the CDC’s Community Guide; 2) Institute formal navigation strategies and employ patient navigators to support clinic CRC Champions to create, monitor and analyze data related CRC screening, e.g. demographics, barriers to care, appointment adherence, and screening compliance; 3) Leverage partnerships with local, state and national organizations that provide expertise in creating capacity for high quality local EHR data to identify specific populations with a lower screening prevalence; 4) Conducted an EBI readiness assessment; 5) Utilize Quality Improvement (QI) Process Mapping and Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) protocols for clinical process and data management; 6) Collect and report high-quality clinic-level data including baseline and annual CRC screening rates; and 7) Ensure tribal clinics and local health systems have sustainable capacity to support timely referrals for follow-up colonoscopies after a positive or abnormal CRC screening test. The Technical and Training Assistance, Quality Improvement Initiatives, and Health System partnerships, facilitated by ITCM, will ensure that tribal health systems have well established policies, processes, and systems to support sustainment of clinical practices and multi-component evidence-based interventions that reduce structural barriers, and increase prevalence of stool based testing and colonoscopy, to decrease late stage diagnosis of CRC, and reduce CRC incidence and mortality.
