The Center for Community Health and Health Equity (CCHHE) is working with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center to improve rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among patients served through two BWH licensed community health centers (Southern Jamaica Plain and Brookside). Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in Massachusetts and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in Boston. The need to improve CRC screening is underscored by the fact that over 33 percent of cases could be prevented if everyone over age 50 were screened.
The Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center Open Doors to Health Cancer Screening Program is designed to bring together community-based peer leaders/health educators and a patient navigator to:
- Increase awareness of the need for screening among patients who receive care at two BWH community health centers
- Increase physician recommendations for screening among patients aged 50 and older seeking care at BWH licensed community health centers
- Decrease no-show rates for screening colonoscopy
- Increase adequate CRC test preparation and address barriers to screening through patient navigators and peer leaders
Through this collaboration, we are supporting local underserved and at-risk communities in the development of a sustainable cancer prevention program. Furthermore, through efforts to address the individual, institutional, and community-level barriers associated with CRC screening, this initiative aims to address universal barriers to care contributing to disparities across other health outcomes.
Learn More
To learn more about the CCHHE’s colorectal cancer screening program, we encourage you to contact us at (617) 264-8750.
