Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research
Project
Implementation of Evidence-based Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Texas Federally Qualified Health Centers
Project Overview
The overall goal of our program is to increase colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) by supporting the use of proven approaches in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). These efforts aim to improve screening rates and reduce colorectal cancer and related health differences among African American and Hispanic populations in both rural and urban areas of Texas.
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, UT Health Tyler, and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are working together with FQHCs across Texas to strengthen the use and long-term application of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Community Guide-recommended strategies for increasing CRCS.
Recommended Approaches to CRCS:
- Provider assessment and feedback
- Provider reminders
- Patient reminders
- Reducing structural barriers
This work is supported by the CDC (1NU58DP006767-01-00; PI Fernandez). We gratefully acknowledge our partners: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the American Cancer Society.
Project Details
Maria E. Fernandez, PhD - Principal Investigator
Lewis Foxhall, PhD - Co Principal Investigator
Paul McGaha, DO, MPH - Co Principal Investigator
Bijal A. Balasubramanian MBBS, PhD - Co investigator
Lara Savas, PhD - Co investigator
Susan Fenton, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA - Co investigator
Melissa Valerio-Shewmaker, PhD, MPH - Co investigator
Timothy Walker, PhD - Co investigator
Deevakar Rogith, MBBS, PhD - Co investigator
Project Staff
Project personnel are listed below. Click on a name to view the individual profile.
Health centers experience increased screening rates after partnering with Colorectal Cancer Control Program
In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) made great strides in increasing colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) and follow-up rates through partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across Texas.
TACHC and CHPPR Assist Texas Health Centers to Implement Cancer Prevention Strategies
The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) is Texas’s federally designated primary care association, committed to advancing equitable access to quality healthcare in Texas. The Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research regularly partners with TACHC on cancer and chronic disease prevention projects across the state, including HPV vaccination, smoking cessation, and colorectal and cervical cancer screening programs.
CHPPR Assesses Readiness of Health Centers to Implement Colorectal Cancer Control Interventions
A collaboration between CHPPR’s Colorectal Cancer Control and Prevention (CRCCP) and Organizational Readiness projects aims to help federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) improve their colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) rates. By performing needs and readiness assessments with the FQHCs, the teams can identify factors that influence the implementation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that could increase CRCS rates, allowing for more effective implementation with improved results.