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2022 Colorectal Cancer Screening Awards

Rapid City Medical Center’s Gastroenterology Clinic is home to the largest group of board-certified gastroenterologists in western South Dakota. The five physician partners, alongside eight Physician Assistants and Certified Nurse Practitioners and a skilled team of nurses and care professionals, perform over 6000 procedures each year in the clinic, endoscopy center, and local hospital. The group is committed to excellence and proud of their statistics with 99.98% of colonoscopies performed without perforation of the colon and a 56% adenoma detection rate when the national performance target is 25%.  Last year the staff held a t-shirt fundraiser in lieu of the Bottoms Up 5K (due to Covid). They raised and donated $1,775.82 to the Colon Cancer Coalition!

The Horizon clinic teams have dedicated time for monthly meetings and continued education with their clinical care teams to demonstrate the importance of and their commitment to colorectal cancer screening efforts. Three clinics have been collaborating with the SD Department of Health since June 2020 to implement evidence-based interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening rates. They have reduced  structural barriers in hard to reach populations. Horizon has built relationships with partner facilities to complete colonoscopies for patients in need.  In 2021, Horizon James Valley Community Health Center worked with the Huron Regional Medical Center to complete 5 screening colonoscopies with grant funds for patients who were uninsured. They have increased screening rates in participating clinics and overall as an organization. For example, the James Valley Community Health Center screening rates increased from 44% to 58%; the Aberdeen Clinic increased from 32% to 35%; and the Martin Clinic increased from 39% to 50%. The staff have educated patients and increased the iFOBT return rates. Patient navigators and clinic champions have been at the core of the work to achieve these goals.


2021 Colorectal Cancer Screening Awards

The Great Plains Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (GPCCSI) has been named the 2021 Colorectal Cancer Screening Organization of the Year. GPCCSI has worked for the last 5 years to increase colorectal cancer screening in over 18 tribal communities of the Great Plains by developing an interactive provider assessment, creating a sustainability toolkit, and developing several AI/AN CRC videos. Their hard work has paid off, as several facilities have seen an increase in screening rates by 10-30%, aggregated GPRAs report.

Jacob Quail, MD, Sanford Vermillion Medical Center, has been selected as the 2021 Colorectal Cancer Screening Champion of the Year. Dr. Quail is invested in the Vermillion community and helping people get screened for CRC. He does community talks and does clinic rounding to assist with educating patients on the importance of screening. He has said before “the best screening test is the one that gets done.” Since Dr. Quail has started in August 2020 (6 months), he has completed more colonoscopies than was done in an entire year previously. His engagement with the community is a big driver behind getting patients caught up on screening.


2020 Colorectal Cancer Screening Awards

The Sanford Health Canton and Beresford clinics were named Organization of the Year. The clinics have focused efforts to educate the public on colorectal cancer prevention. The RN Care Manager and the Cancer Prevention Outreach Coordinator provide education about CRC screening at local community events such as employee meetings, senior center and Rotary clubs. The clinics collaborated with a local church and health co-op to offer free FITs and education. Since 2011, the clinics sponsored a health fair in conjunction with the Canton Community Expo which attracts approximately 500 people annually. Attendees have the opportunity to walk through the inflatable colon, visit with medical professionals, and view educational displays. The clinics host cancer screening days in the fall, offer education on colorectal cancer screening options and free FITs to eligible patients. The staff review patient registries and contact patients who are overdue for screenings to discuss options available to complete screening. The screening rate for Canton Clinic has increased from 71.6% in 2019 to 75.7% in 2020, which reflects a 4.1% positive change in only one year!

Falls Community Health was awarded the Innovator of the Year. Falls identified a financial barrier for many of their uninsured patients who needed follow-up colonoscopy after positive FIT results. In an attempt to remove this barrier, they developed an idea to start a 5k fundraising event. Creatively it was called “The Blue Move” to not only utilize the color blue for Colorectal Cancer, but also an emphasis on BM for stool sample screening. The Blue Move, an annual 5K fun run/walk is open to the community and proceeds are used to help reduce the expense of the follow-up colonoscopy for uninsured patients at Falls Community Health. This event also helps raise awareness of colorectal cancer and the importance of early screening. In 2018, the first Blue Move had 93 participants and raised over $3,000. In 2019, the event had 113 participants and raised over $3,500.

The Champion of the Year award went to Dana Olsen and Heather Lee. These two women are an integral part of the team at Sanford 4th & Sycamore and Brandon Clinics. They teamed up with their colleagues to deploy a multi-faceted approach to improve screening rates. They worked diligently with the whole team to identify barriers, provide education and optimize tools. Patient reminders were initiated and continue today for those due or overdue for screening. When patients arrive for their appointment, they receive a Decision Tool, so they can review information about available screening tests while waiting for their appointment. Patients are also identified for screening during daily morning huddles. CRC data is presented monthly at staff meetings. They also developed a “Colon Stamp” for their rooming sheets to identify patients in need of screening.  All of these activities have resulted in significant increases in screening rates. In 2016, the 4th and Sycamore screening rate was 68.5% and in 2020 it increased to 78.3%.  Likewise, the Brandon baseline in 2014 rate was 44% and increased to 70% in 2020.


The SD DOH Cancer Programs Implementation Grant recipients under RFA #19CP0004 include:

Horizon Health Care, Inc.-$19,500
Horizon Health Care, Inc. will implement evidence-based client reminders and provider assessment and feedback processes to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates.

Mobridge Regional Hospital & Clinics-$20,000
Mobridge Regional Hospital & Clinics will implement evidence-based client reminders to increase breast and colorectal cancer screening rates.

Sanford Clinic-$8,775
Sanford Health Brookings Clinic will implement evidence-based interventions to reduce structural barriers to increase screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and increase HPV vaccination rates.

Sanford Medical Center-$20,000
Sanford Medical Center will implement evidence-based patient navigation, workflows, and referral processes to increase access and early referral to palliative care services.


SD Cancer Coalition Recognizes Efforts to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening

A South Dakota physician and a health care facility are being recognized for their efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening as part of a national effort to screen 80 percent of the eligible population by 2018.

The South Dakota Cancer Coalition Colorectal Cancer Task Force has honored Dr. Daniel Heinemann, MD, a vice president and medical officer for Sanford Health Network, and Falls Community Health in Sioux Falls for increasing screening rates among their eligible patients. Dr. Heinemann was awarded the 80 percent by 2018 Champion of the Year Award and Falls Community Health received the 80 percent by 2018 Organization of the Year Award.

“Staff at Falls Community Health and Dr. Heinemann should be applauded for their hard work and dedication to increase colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in South Dakota,” said Karen Cudmore, cancer programs director for the Department of Health. “We know that colorectal cancer screening tests can save lives, but the reality is too many adults aren’t following the recommendation for regular screening beginning at age 50.”

According to the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, just 65.8 percent of South Dakota adults aged 50 to 75 were up to date with colorectal cancer screening. The state and several partners are part of a national effort working toward the goal of increasing colorectal cancer screening rates to 80 percent by 2018.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Men and women age 50 to 75 should talk to their healthcare provider about getting screened for colorectal cancer. For more information about screening, go to GetScreened.SD.gov.

Dr. Heinemann is pictured with (left to right) Kelly Hasvold, MBA, RN, CPHQ, Director Quality and Safety, Sioux Falls Region, Sanford Health; Abby Kuper, Manager of Employee Health Sioux Falls, Sanford Health; Dr. Daniel Heinemann, MD, a vice president and medical officer for Sanford Health Network; Jennifer Weiss, Improvement Advisor, Sanford Health Quality Department; Sarah Quail, Cancer Programs Coordinator, SD Department of Health.

Pictured is the staff at Falls Community Health in Sioux Falls.


The 2018-2019 SD DOH Cancer Programs Implementation Grant recipients under RFA #19CP0001 include:

Sanford Medical Center-$20,000
Sanford Medical Center will implement evidence-based nutrition interventions for cancer patients. As part of project efforts, an evidence-based nutritional screening tool, best practice alert, and nutrition services will be implemented for cancer patients.

Black Hills Pediatrics, LLP -$18,000
Black Hills Pediatrics, LLP will implement the following evidence-based interventions to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates: client reminders, provider reminder and recall systems, and provider assessment and feedback.


HPV Vaccination Task Force Presents Recognition Awards

Andrea Polkinghorn, RN, Clinical Services Manager at Sanford Health was recognized as the HPV Vaccination Champion of the Year for her efforts to improve HPV vaccination rates. Andrea is pictured with Sarah Quail, SD Department of Health Cancer Programs Coordinator (left), and Tim Heath, SD Department of Health Immunization Program Manager (right).

Platte Medical Clinic was recognized as the HPV Vaccination Organization of the Year for their dedication to increasing HPV vaccination rates. Pictured from left are Sarah Quail, SD Department of Health Cancer Programs Coordinator; Lori Heath, RN at Platte Medical Clinic; Mindi Veurink, RN at Platte Medical Clinic; and Tim Heath, SD Department of Health Immunization Program Manager.


SD Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Recognizes Efforts to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening

A South Dakota health care professional and a health care facility are being recognized for their efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening as part of a national effort to screen 80 percent of the eligible population by 2018.

The state’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Colorectal Cancer Task Force has honored Sara Romeo, RN Navigator for Falls Community Health, and Sanford Health Family Medicine Clinics in the Sioux Falls Region for increasing screening rates among their eligible patients. Sara was awarded the 80 percent by 2018 Champion of the Year Award and Sanford Health Family Medicine Clinics received the 80 percent by 2018 Organization of the Year Award.

“The staff at the Sanford Health Family Medicine Clinics and Sara Romeo should be applauded for their hard work and dedication to increase colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in South Dakota,” said Karen Cudmore, cancer programs director for the Department of Health; “We know that colorectal cancer screening tests can save lives, but the reality is too many adults aren’t following the recommendation for regular screening beginning at age 50.”

According to the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, just 66.7 percent of South Dakota adults aged 50 to 75 were up to date with colorectal cancer screening. The state is part of a national effort working toward the goal of increasing colorectal cancer screening rates to 80 percent by 2018.

For more information about screening, go to GetScreenedSD.org.

Sanford Clinic & Sanford Health Network received the 80 percent by 2018 Organization of the Year Award for increasing colorectal cancer screening rates. Pictured from left are Jill Ireland, SD Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Colorectal Cancer Task Force, Dan Heinemann, MD, Health Network Vice President and Medical Officer, Sanford Clinic and Sanford Health Network, and Terri L Carlson, Executive Director, Sanford Health.

Sara Romeo, RN, Falls Community Health Nurse Navigator, received the 80 percent by 2018 Champion of the Year Award for increasing colorectal cancer screening rates. She is pictured with (left) Sarah Quail, SD Department of Health Cancer Program Coordinator and (right) Jill Ireland, SD Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Colorectal Cancer Task Force.

 


CDC: Two shots enough for most young patients getting HPV vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that 11- to 12-year olds receive two doses of the HPV vaccine at least six months apart rather than the previously recommended three doses to protect against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Teens and young adults who start the series later, at ages 15 through 26 years, will continue to need three doses of the HPV vaccine to protect against cancer-causing HPV infections. For more information, read the full MMWR.


Cancer Moonshot Task Force Report Released

The Blue Ribbon Task Force issued a report describing 10 transformative research recommendations for achieving the Cancer Moonshot’s ambitious goal of making a decade’s worth of progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in just 5 years. Read the report.