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Regional Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative
Bolsters Increased Preventive Screening Measures
Published: March 11, 2026 at
02:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from Fort Drum Regional Health
Planning Organization
Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative Bolsters
Increased Preventive Screening Measures
 Watertown, NY — Fort Drum
Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) has successfully led an
18-month regional collaboration that significantly increased colorectal
cancer screening rates in the North Country, demonstrating how coordinated,
evidence-based strategies can improve health outcomes in rural communities.
Through
participation in the Exact Sciences FOCUS program from fall 2023 to spring
2025, FDRHPO collaborated with 11 clinics across the region, bringing
together hospital-based practices, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and
private providers to increase access to life-saving colorectal cancer
screening for underserved populations.
As a result of
this effort, 1,984 colorectal cancer screenings were completed, surpassing
the original goal of 1,250 by more than 50 percent. Using Medicare and managed
Medicaid data, more than 3,700 patients due for screening were identified,
and participating partners implemented targeted outreach strategies to
engage them.
“This project
centered around individualized conversations between patients and their
primary care teams, to help identify which screening option was best for
each patient given their unique personal and family history, preferences,
and circumstances,” said Joanna Loomis, NCI deputy director at FDRHPO.
“Care teams initiated these conversations through targeted outreach (calls,
letters, provider portal messages, etc.) and during scheduled appointments;
simultaneously, our marketing campaign encouraged people ages 45-75 to
contact their primary care to discuss screening options. A core message of
the marketing campaign was that screening begins at age 45 (not 50, as was
previously the case).”
FDRHPO assisted
partner clinics by identifying patients due for screening, executing media
campaigns to raise awareness, sharing screening
best practices among participating partners, and evaluating the project's
outcomes.
Participating clinics
used multiple touchpoints to connect with patients, recognizing that
repeated outreach was essential to re-engaging individuals who had been
disconnected from preventive care. Staff were also educated on updated
insurance coverage rules for follow-up colonoscopies, helping to reduce
financial and logistical barriers.
The effort
focused on populations disproportionately impacted by social determinants
of health, such as low-income individuals and people with disabilities,
reaffirming FDRHPO’s dedication to health equity throughout rural Northern
New York.
“We are grateful
for support from Exact Sciences to conduct this critical work,” added Ms.
Loomis. “Not only did it support targeted outreach to initiate colorectal
cancer screening conversations with patients, but it also empowered primary
care partners to assist patients in navigating next steps, such as
facilitating connections with regional colonoscopy providers, assisting
patients in securing and returning Cologuard test kits, and following up on
abnormal results as applicable. Now that the grant-funded project is
complete, FDRHPO and our partners are applying lessons learned to conduct
ongoing colorectal cancer screening outreach and are actively tracking
performance in several Medicare and Managed Medicaid value-based
arrangements.”
Colorectal cancer
is typically treatable, especially when detected through timely screening,
but rural communities often face limited access, workforce shortages, and
transportation issues. FDRHPO’s work through the FOCUS program illustrates
the success of a scalable model for improving preventive care in rural
areas—one that uses data, collaboration, and patient-focused outreach.
To learn more
about Exact Sciences’ FOCUS program and read the final report for this and
related projects, please visit https://www.exactsciences.com/corporate-impact-community-relations/tag/commitment-to-eradicate-cancer/focus-program
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