NYC Health + Hospitals Joins National Effort to Increase Colon Cancer Screening Rates by 2018
Health system's colorectal cancer screening rate at 75 percent – above national average
Mar 31, 2016
Dr. Ram Raju, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, today pledged to join the shared goal of reaching 80 percent screening rates for colorectal cancer by 2018. The health system’s colorectal cancer screening rate among its patients is 75 percent, placing it above the national average of 64 percent. NYC Health + Hospitals joins the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, the American Cancer Society and hundreds of public and private organizations who today committed to increasing the nation’s colon cancer screening rate in an effort to reduce colon cancer cases and death rates in the United States.
“Making this pledge to increase colon cancer screening rates to 80 percent is a natural fit for our organization. Our aggressive screening efforts have already been successful in reducing colorectal screening disparities among ethnic groups and eliminating barriers to care,” said Dr. Raju. “Our essential health system has made cancer screening and prevention a priority by offering affordable colonoscopies and other screening tests to all New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status.”
Last year NYC Health + Hospitals physicians performed nearly 22,000 colonoscopies and helped nearly 6,000 New Yorkers decrease their cancer risk by removing polyps during the procedure. Hospitals throughout the health system provide affordable colorectal cancer screenings and bi-lingual financial counselors are available to help with financial assistance.
Contact: Jennifer Bender, 212-788-3339
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation with a network of 11 hospitals including six regional trauma centers, community-based health centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, and a correctional health services unit. The system includes a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlusHealth. The health system provides essential services to 1.2 million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the five boroughs. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees are uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. Visit nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected: https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem/ or Twitter @NYCHealthSystem.