Ohio Recognized Nationally for Improving Colorectal Cancer Screenings

February 26, 2018

Contact:
Morgan Pelt
Communications Manager

March is colorectal cancer awareness month, and Ohio is one of many at the forefront increasing awareness and improving screenings of colorectal cancer, for those 50 years and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the third leading cancer killer in the United States. In 2018, it is expected to cause roughly 50,630 deaths.

Recently, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) was awarded the 80% by 2018 National Achievement Award, a national honor recognizing leadership in the ongoing effort to increase colorectal cancer screening rates across the United States, by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), an organization co-founded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the CDC.

“We are honored to recognize the OAFP for their dedication and efforts to continue to increase awareness that colorectal cancer screening saves lives, but only if people get tested,” said Richard Wender, MD, chief cancer control officer of the ACS.

The 80% by 2018 National Achievement Award recognizes individuals and organizations who dedicate their time, talent, and expertise to advancing needed initiatives to reach the national goal of regularly screening 80% of adults age 50 or over for colorectal cancer. Over 1,600 organizations, including medical professional societies, academic centers, survivor groups, government agencies, cancer coalitions, cancer centers, and payers have signed a pledge to make this goal a priority.

“It’s about saving lives,” said Donald Mack, MD, president of the OAFP. “We are proud to have nearly 100 primary care offices across Ohio contribute significantly to increase screenings for colorectal cancer.”

Since 2008, the OAFP has organized a physician-led practice improvement project to increase colorectal cancer screenings in family physician practices across Ohio. The goal of the project is to assist family physicians and their care teams to increase colorectal cancer screening rates.

“The ACS is proud to partner with and support the OAFP in their efforts to save lives by increasing colorectal cancer screening in Ohio. We have seen the success of their project first hand, and cannot think of a more deserving organization to be honored by the NCCRT,” said Anna Fetzer, senior manager with the ACS.

The program not only improves patient health outcomes, but also helps strengthen practice efficiencies, and team communication. Other partner organizations include the Ohio Department of Health (ODH); ACS, North Central Ohio Region; the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers; and the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians.

“The OAFP has inspired partners across the nation with their collaborative and highly-successful approach to increasing colorectal cancer screening rates,” said Leigh Anne Hehr, health systems manager, State-Based, North Central Ohio Region of the ACS. “It has been a pleasure to support their project over the years and congratulations on this much deserved award.”

“We are proud partner and support the OAFP and their efforts in promoting strategies through their quality improvement programming to increase colorectal cancer screenings,” said Clint Koenig, MD, medical director of the ODH. “We are pleased to add our congratulations to them for receiving this honor from the NCCRT.”

Additional recipients who were awarded include the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Oklahoma City, OK, as the grand prize winner; and AltaMed Health Services, Los Angeles, CA; Ameren, St. Louis, MO; The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Samuel C. Pace, MD, Tupelo, MS; and the Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.

The OAFP will be recognized, along with other award recipients, during the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month kickoff event on Thursday, March 8, in Los Angeles, CA. The event will feature celebrities, survivors, and medical experts. The event will be broadcast live on Facebook.com/MayoClinic from 4:00 – 4:20 p.m. EST, and the panel discussions will broadcast on Facebook.com/AmericanCancerSociety from 4:20 – 5:00 p.m. EST.

To learn more about the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, visit www.nccrt.org.

The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is a statewide professional association with more than 4,900 members, including practicing physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, and every disease entity. Family physicians provide comprehensive, continuing care to all members of the family.

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Editor’s Note
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) was awarded the 80% by 2018 Award by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) for increasing screenings for colorectal cancer. March is national colorectal cancer awareness month.