Colorectal Screening Initiative

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

In an effort to raise the rates of Oakland County residents screened for colorectal cancer, the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) partnered with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and four local hospital systems to offer a colorectal screening opportunity for county residents. The initiative utilized flu clinics as an innovative avenue to capture a large number of residents potentially at risk for colon cancer. Each of the four hospital systems (Beaumont, Henry Ford Health System, St. John Providence and McLaren) purchased Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kits for distribution at OCHD. The FIT screening initiative was marketed in the community by flyers and posters as well as through press releases, social media and email blasts. Public Health Nurses were trained on the topic of colon cancer as well as the FIT kits, and kits were distributed at both OCHD health centers as well as four community based flu outreach clinics. OCHD tracked the hospital specific screening kits and provided weekly updates to the hospitals. The hospital labs tested the specimens and mailed screening results to the residents who submitted kits. Residents whose screenings results indicated the need for further testing were referred for follow-up. To further increase the impact of this colorectal screening initiative, in March 2017, OCHD began offering the kits to all eligible county employees and their families. To date this effort remains ongoing.