Primary care providers from the Division of Family & Community Medicine have increased the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rate by more than 5 percentage points this year, helping more than 4,700 additional patients complete screenings at health centers across University of Utah Health.
“The increase has a substantial impact on patient care, especially if we can sustain and increase these screening rates over time,” said Michael Flynn, MD, medical director of quality. “Even small increases in screening rates can have huge impacts over the years in preventing morbidity and mortality from colon cancer.”
The increase followed a quality improvement project that brought together primary care clinics to strengthen CRC screening, with a focus on fecal immunochemical tests (FIT). Designed to enhance existing screening practices, the initiative supported clinics in developing and implementing new workflows.
To encourage participation, Chanda Sundara, quality improvement specialist, and Abby McJunkin, healthcare quality analyst, introduced a friendly competition among clinics. Teams earned points for various CRC screening activities, including identifying patients due for testing and helping them complete the process.
The results of the competition were shared during a Community Clinics Leadership Council meeting in August. Centerville Health Center placed first, followed by Redstone Health Center and Redwood Health Center.
Centerville Medical Director Valerie Burstein, MD, said the clinic’s success in CRC screening is rooted in a goal-oriented, team-based culture.
“This achievement reflects a coordinated effort among medical assistants, nursing staff, laboratory personnel, and providers,” she said. “More importantly, this initiative reflects our commitment to providing comprehensive, proactive care and ensuring that our patients feel genuinely cared for as a whole.”
