In 2024, our Colorectal Cancer Screening Program successfully completed 5,053 colon cancer screenings—demonstrating both the depth of our community outreach and our continued commitment to closing the gap in colorectal cancer prevention and care. Our screening rate rose to 72 percent this year, and we remain dedicated to increasing that number as we further raise awareness, expand access and advance early detection efforts. We have prioritized education, community engagement, and coordinated follow-up and care to increase screening access, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes. Our state-of-the-art, patient-friendly screening methods are designed to lower your cancer risk and to detect cancer at the earliest most treatable stage, even before symptoms appear. “Our message to the community is clear: colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Early detection is crucial,” said Thomas Ullman, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology. 

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, our researchers presented findings regarding one of our quality improvement initiatives which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) virtual patient navigation to promote the re-engagement of patients nonadherent with scheduled colonoscopy appointments. MyEleanor, an AI-powered patient navigator, called 2,400 patients who had missed their colonoscopies, assessed their barriers to screening, and engaged live agents to help those patients reschedule and recommit to their appointments. The new technology helped almost double the number of patients who showed up for their colonoscopies after missing a previous screening. This project demonstrated the high potential of an AI patient navigator in helping to overcome patient attrition that can lead to colon cancer disparities while improving patient volume. Our team is continuing to examine the impact of AI virtual patient navigation on patient prep adherence, staff burden and patient satisfaction, the cost of care as well as its effectiveness in coordinating medication pickup and conveying pre-procedure instructions. (LINK)

Expanding Access to State-of-the-Art Colorectal Cancer Screening 

Our Colorectal Cancer Screening Program offers the full spectrum of modern screening technologies, enabling personalized, timely, and effective care and expanding access and convenience for patients throughout the community. Among the most recent additions are advanced liquid biopsy (blood-based) options for colorectal cancer screening, including the Shield™ test, FDA-approved in July 2024 to detect cell-free DNA, and ColoHealth™, launched nationally in 2025 to detect methylated Septin 9 DNA, a biomarker associated with colorectal cancer.

Patients also have access to several noninvasive, at-home stool-based tests, including the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), and multitarget stool DNA or RNA tests combined with FIT, such as Cologuard® and Colosense™. These tests can detect genetic changes linked to colorectal cancer, offering convenient and effective alternatives for individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer. For direct visual evaluation, our program offers CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy), colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy—selected based on each individual’s clinical indication, risk profile, and personal preference.

While multiple screening options are available, screening colonoscopy remains the most effective method, as it can detect and remove precancerous polyps during the same procedure. Colonoscopies are offered at our three endoscopy campuses and two ambulatory sites. 

Streamlined Referrals and Patient Navigation

The screening process often begins with primary care physicians and other clinicians referring eligible patients who meet the screening colonoscopy criteria—typically those aged 45 years and older, individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer, or who experience changes in bowel habits or have a history of gastrointestinal disease.

Clinical navigators review medical records and contact patients for clinical assessments. Once approved, our qualified patient navigators schedule the screening at the appropriate site and provide tailored guidance throughout the process. Each patient navigator is trained to communicate effectively, educate patients about the procedure, and provide preparation instructions. Follow-up confirmation calls are conducted to discuss the process, reinforce next steps, reduce cancellations, and ensure that every patient follows the necessary steps that will lead to a successful screening. 

Our patient navigators play an essential role in helping to address barriers to quality care, especially among underserved populations, guiding individuals through the complex healthcare system and reducing no-show and cancellation rates. In a community where the majority of residents are African American and Hispanic—populations at higher risk for colorectal cancer—our Program remains a leader in promoting equitable screening access, early detection, and maximizing screening rates.

When detected early, localized colon cancer has been reported to have a five-year survival rate of over 90%, and in many cases, it can be prevented through the removal of precancerous polyps. Even if cancer is detected, advances in treatment have made care today less invasive, more targeted, and more effective than ever before. Our multidisciplinary team of world-renowned physicians and surgeons collaborate closely to develop novel individualized treatment plans that use the latest minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. 

At the forefront of innovation, our researchers are studying the genomics of colorectal cancer, uncovering mechanisms of treatment resistance, and identifying novel targets and pathways that drive tumor growth. These insights are helping to inform the development of new drugs and combination therapies aimed at slowing—or potentially eliminating—colon cancer progression. Through our numerous clinical trials, our patients can also access emerging technologies and innovative treatments that may otherwise be unavailable to the general public.

Our continued advancements in colorectal cancer screening further reinforce our role as a leader in colorectal cancer care and early detection. We’re ranked in the top 1% of all hospitals in the nation for cancer care and are among the highest performing hospitals in the nation for gastroenterology and GI surgery, according to U.S. News & World Report. Our Program is also fully integrated with our NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—among the elite 1% NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S.  

We are committed to preventing cancer and ensuring that everyone has access to the most advanced screening to help detect cancer early and save lives. To learn more about how to prevent colorectal cancer and schedule screening, please contact the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at 718-920-7183.