Coalition Activities
Coalition Sponsors Program to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates
The Monmouth Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society and the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians partnered to sponsor an educational program to increase colorectal cancer screening rates.
Through a partnership with the American Cancer Society and the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, the Monmouth Cancer Coalition sponsored a special training for physicians and other primary care providers in the county.
Despite declining mortality rates for colorectal cancer, Monmouth County remains fifth highest in New Jersey for colorectal cancer deaths. The multi-state Dialogue for Action, dedicated to increasing colorectal cancer screening rates, cites the effectiveness of involving primary care physicians as advocates for colorectal cancer screening. As a result, the American Cancer Society and the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians developed this one-hour educational program with CME credits, along with support materials for use at the practice site. Physicians who implement the program at their practices will receive additional credits.
"How to Increase Colorectal Cancer Rates in Practice" was offered on February 11, 2009 at the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey in Red Bank and on February 25, 2009 at the Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center of CentraState Medical Center in Freehold. A total of seventeen physicians and nurses attended.
"I am pleased that primary care physicians have this opportunity to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in their practices," said Dr. Anju Mattoo, Medical Director, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center, Inc. Judging from the excellent program evaluations, the participants agreed with Dr. Mattoo and expressed their eagerness to implement the program in their practices.
Pictured above: Dr.Jeffrey A. Zlotnick, MD CAQ and participants. Feb. 11, 2009.