The Louisiana Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (LCCRT)
The Problem
Louisiana has one of the highest colorectal cancer incidence and death rates in the country. Visit our Colorectal Cancer page to learn just how bad the problem is.
The Solution
Working Together
Fortunately, several people and organizations in the state came together to reduce those rates and formed The Louisiana Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (LCCRT). Convened by the American Cancer Society, the Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Programs (LCP) at LSU Health New Orleans, and the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at LSU Health Shreveport, the LCCRT is coalition of people and organizations identifying barriers to care, increasing statewide colorectal cancer screening rates and promoting colorectal health across the state.
In a relatively short time, the unfunded LCCRT has accomplished and continues to do the following:
- Helped increase the state’s colorectal cancer screening rate 2.9% to 64.3%
- Significantly reduced the wait time for colonoscopies at a major New Orleans hospital, via a series of interventions
- Hosted the 3rd Annual Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium in 2018, not only increasing and sharing knowledge of colorectal cancer screening best practices, but earning Louisiana tourism dollars
- Educating providers on quality improvement and evidence-based practices
- Working with insurance companies to encourage providers to make colorectal health a priority
- Conducting ongoing social media campaigns to increase knowledge of colorectal health and to raise colorectal cancer screening rates
Gut Feelings Matter! Your Resource Center for Colorectal Cancer
LCCRT aims to achieve 80% colorectal cancer screening and eliminate colorectal health disparities in every community in Louisiana. Help us make a difference! The information and resources below are designed to support Louisiana patients and providers on this mission to improve colorectal cancer in our state.
- For Patients: From understanding symptoms and guidelines to exploring the different screening options, get the information you need to talk to your doctor and make an informed decision about screening. See below to learn more.
- For Providers: Equip yourself with the latest screening guidelines, Louisiana CRC data, and educational materials to help your patients get screened. Whether you’re an oncologist or a primary care physician, access tools to improve patient outcomes. See below for resources.
Data
The LCCRT follows the maxim “Everything starts with data.” The LCCRT works with the award-winning Louisiana Tumor Registry to extrapolate information from cancer data, as well as other sources to identify issues and address problems related to colorectal cancer health. Visit LTR’s website to see the data.
For example:
- Cost Benefit Analysis: Each year the LCCRT Data Task Force Group updates its Medicaid cost-benefit analysis to show how investing on colorectal cancer prevention saves the state millions of dollars, in addition to lives. The $33 million spent on treatment alone could fund Louisiana’s Go Grant program, which funds college tuitions.
- GIs in Louisiana: In 2016, data revealed that Louisiana gastroenterologists are heavily concentrated in cities and suburbs, leaving rural areas under- or completely unserved.
Interventions
- Screen Up’s QI Webinar Series: LCP’s Screen Up Program has been helping Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) raise their screening rates so well, that the state’s FQHC colorectal cancer screening rates are beating the national FQHC average. The LCCRT, with LCP, is working to share knowledge on how they accomplished this feat via a series of online quality improvement workshops for doctors, nurses, social workers, program managers and an array of health providers. For more information or to register, contact Reni Elewonibi.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana “Quality Blue Primary Care” initiative: Recognizes physicians who have screened 80% or more of their eligible patients in an annual awards ceremony.
Resources
If you are a patient – get all the facts about Colorectal Cancer:
Symptoms, Lifestyle Factors, and Screening Options
Insurance Coverage for CRC Screening
If you are a provider – particularly in regions 3 and 4 – we have some resources to help you talk about colorectal cancer with your patients.
Colorectal Cancer in Region 3 Fact Sheet
Colorectal Cancer in Region 4 Fact Sheet
Colorectal Cancer Screening Flyers
Colorectal Cancer: Did You Know? Flyer #1
Colorectal Cancer: Did You Know? Flyer #2
Colorectal Cancer: Did You Know? Flyer #3
Need other support? Let us know how we can help. Please complete this form.
There are number of other resources available to those wanting to find out more about colorectal cancer and to fight it. To see LCCRT’s annual report to the legislature, visit Materials.
If you are interested in learning more about the LCCRT, and/or would like to volunteer, contact Nakisha Singleton. To see previous newsletters, visit Materials.