Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative Bolsters Increased Preventive Screening Measures

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