Cancer

Background

While screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widely accepted concept nationally and screening rates are increasing, there are differences in screening rates between states and within states.

Methods

In an effort to increase screening rates and ensure equal access based on race/ethnicity, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene formed a coalition of stakeholders in 2003, with the primary focus on colonoscopy, to develop and implement strategies across the city to achieve this goal.

Results

From a screening colonoscopy rate of only 42% in 2003, these concerted efforts contributed to achieving a screening rate of 62% by 2007, and almost 70% in 2014, with the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities.

Conclusions

We provide details of how this program was successfully conceived, implemented and sustained in the large urban population of NYC. We hope that by sharing the many elements involved and the lessons that we learned, other communities may adapt our experiences to their own environments so that CRC screening rates can be maximized.

26595055

PMC4939480

Journal Article

CDC Public Access