Medical Groups Identify Successful Interventions for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening

Alexandria, VA – Today, AMGA announced that participants in its Colorectal Cancer Screening Quality and Innovation Collective (CRC QuIC), supported by Exact Sciences, identified key strategies and interventions to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates. Interventions focused on screening and identification of patients, disparities in care, clinical workflows or pathways for CRC screening, patient awareness and education, clinical decision support tools, and timely follow-up after abnormal CRC screening.

CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women. 1 Colorectal cancer is often considered the "most preventable, yet least prevented" form of cancer.2 CRC remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.1 Screening can reduce CRC mortality both by decreasing incidence and increasing survival.3

The CRC QuIC involved 12 AMGA member organizations and more than 5,000 full-time physicians. It began in April 2021 and concluded in April 2022. At the conclusion of the QuIC, participants identified successful interventions and shared “QuIC Tips” to guide other organizations to improve CRC screening rates. 

 “When recommendations lowered the screening age to 45 years, the CRC QuIC created a well-timed forum for members to come together to discuss new strategies and challenges to screening and follow-up for their patient populations to prevent gaps in care,” said John Kennedy, M.D., AMGA Foundation president and AMGA chief medical officer. “By sharing their learnings, they can help healthcare providers nationwide achieve early identification and treatment for their patients with CRC.”

“The AMGA CRC QuIC presented a fantastic opportunity for participating health systems to close CRC screening gaps for the approximately 44 million Americans not up to date with CRC screening4,” said Durado D Brooks, M.D., MPH, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Screening for Exact Sciences. “Together, we solved screening challenges, addressed disparities in care, and educated patients on the importance of choice-based screening. It was an honor to collaborate with AMGA and participating systems on this critically important shared mission to improve CRC outcomes for populations across the country.”

The strategies, interventions, and QuIC Tips can be found on AMGA’s CRC QuIC webpage. Additionally, meeting summaries from Phases 1 through 3 can be found on the webpage. Meeting summaries include educational speaker presentations, participating organization presentations, and interactive activity reports.

The following groups submitted interventions and QuIC Tips for inclusion:

• AHS Oklahoma Physician Group, LLC dba Utica Park Clinic
• Carle Physician Group
• Geisinger 
• INTEGRIS Medical Group
• Intermountain Healthcare
• Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
• Lehigh Valley Physician Group
• Maury Regional Medical Group, Inc.
• Prevea Health
• Privia Medical Group North Texas
• Summit Medical Group, PLLC

Sutter Medical Foundation also participated in the CRC QuIC.

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About AMGA

AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of healthcare in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high-quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans. 

AMGA represents medical groups and integrated systems of care. Its diverse membership includes multispecialty medical groups, integrated delivery systems, accountable care organizations, and other entities committed to improving healthcare outcomes. AMGA advocates for the formation of innovative, clinically integrated systems of care that advance population health, enhance patient experience, and reduce healthcare costs. For more information, please visit www.amga.org.

About Exact Sciences

A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences relentlessly pursues smarter solutions providing the clarity to take life-changing action, earlier. Building on the success of Cologuard® and Oncotype® tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its product pipeline to support patients before and throughout their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Exact Sciences unites visionary collaborators to help advance the fight against cancer. Learn more at exactsciences.com.

References

Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2022. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72:7-33.
Itzkowitz SH. Incremental advances in excremental cancer detection tests. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101(18):1225-1227. doi:10.1093/jnci/djp273
American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2020-2022. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2020.
Piscitello A, Edwards DK. Estimating the screening-eligible population size, aged 45 to 74, at average risk to develop colorectal cancer in the United States. Cancer Prev Res. 2020;13(5):443-448. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-052