The Colorectal Cancer Screening Enrollment and Education Initiative at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City tripled the number of colonoscopies performed among a predominantly Latino inner-city population. The findings were presented at the 71st Annual Scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Researchers compared data before and after the program was implemented. Results of the study showed 331 colonoscopies were performed in 2002. In 2003 and 2004, the rates tripled with a total of 1,650 patients undergoing the procedure. Researchers also observed an increase in the detection and removal of polyps. In 2002, 93 patients had adenomatous polyps removed. That number rose to 154 in 2003 and 215 in 2004. Identifying and removing polyps before they become cancerous actually prevents the development of colorectal cancer.
According to Lawrence S. Rosenthal, M.D. of New York Medical College, two primary features contribute to the success of screening – primary care physician referrals and cultural settings. This program stimulated primary care physician referrals for colorectal cancer screening; and provided a setting better equipped to address cultural, educational, and language barriers to screening. The program offered colonoscopies on Saturdays to accommodate patients unable to attend weekday sessions, an important strategy for low-income workers for whom missed work constitutes a barrier to screening.
Even though this primarily represents a medical services marketing coup it does seem to have proven worthwhile in so far as it has increased detection of precancerous lesions. Preventing those lesions would be far better but it would not benefit these doctors so don’t hold your breath waiting for an announcement.