On April 6, 16 practice teams from across Ohio converged on Columbus, OH, to take part in a quality improvement (QI) project to increase colorectal cancer screening rates and discuss the importance of effective and efficient teamwork and its impact on patient care.
Participants, who ranged from physicians, practice managers, nurses, medical assistants, and every team member in between, gained a deeper understanding for the complexities of colorectal cancer and all of the updated guidelines and science behind the disease. Attendees also learned the benefits of a team-based approach to care and gained understanding of the importance of setting an office protocol that supports practice improvement and makes an impact on population health in the practices’ communities.
The day was moderated by Jon Seager, MD, FAAFP, a family physician in Hartville, OH, and OAFP past president. Dr. Seager has served as moderator for colorectal cancer screening improvement team training days for over six years. In addition to energizing teams throughout the day and sharing his own patient stories, he led teams through a process mapping exercise to determine best protocols and process steps for implementing change as it relates to colorectal cancer screenings in the practice.
Joining Dr. Seager was Durado Brooks, MD, MPH, vice president, cancer control interventions at the American Cancer Society. Dr. Brooks provided teams insight into the latest guidelines, trends, and clinical updates in colorectal cancer, talked through tailoring an office protocol to fit the practice, and shared examples of successful interventions that have worked.
The team training day kicked off a six-month implementation phase where the participating practices will put their new protocol into place and collect data to track progress. Teams will utilize the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians’ Colorectal Cancer Screening Module, which is accredited by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) for Family Medicine Certification Performance Improvement credit and by the American Academy of Family Physicians for 20 Performance Improvement in Practice credits.
- Carlisle Medical Care – Carlisle, OH
- Cortland Primary Care – Cortland, OH
- Family Health Service of Darke County – Arcanum, OH
- Family Medicine Center – Akron, OH
- Far Hills Medicine – Kettering, OH
- Hickory Medical Direct Primary Care x 2 – Bellefontaine, OH
- Lorain County Health & Dentistry – Lorain, OH
- Marietta Memorial System Belpre Campus – Belpre, OH
- Parkview Physicians Group – Archbold, OH
- Scioto Family Physicians – Dublin, OH
- Summa Barberton Family Practice – Barberton, OH
- TMG Dover – Dover, OH
- Worthington Family Physicians x 2 – Worthington, OH
- Zanesville VA – Zanesville, OH.
The day also included a panel discussion with three practice teams that had successfully completed an Ohio Academy of Family Physicians QI project in the past. They offered tips and tricks to assist each of the teams in attendance; shared stories of successes and challenges; encouraged team members in attendance to speak up and offer ideas; and helped guide teams to the realization that the small steps practice teams take towards improved cancer screening rates is just one way they are making an impact on population health in their communities.
Thank you to our program partners, who without their support the training day would not be possible, the American Cancer Society North Central Region and the Ohio Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Program.
For more information on this innovative project, visit the OAFP website, contact Director of Education Erin Jech, or call 800.742.7327.
To view photos from the day, please visit the OAFP Facebook page.