to 90% reduction in its normal screening volume. "We had a horrible
two-month dip, so we knew our numbers were going to be low last
year," says Frank Kim, MD, a gastroenterology specialist at the cen-
ter. "And it took some convincing to get patients to return to get the
screenings they needed done."
Early on, Dr. Kim experimented with telehealth and was surprised by
4 8 • O U T P A T I
E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
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The National Colorectal Cancer
Roundtable (NCCR), a national coali-
tion established by the CDC and the
American Cancer Society, says last
year's shutdown of elective proce-
dures caused a 90% drop in colono-
scopies and biopsies through mid-
April 2020, compared with the same
period in 2019. As a result, according
to the NCCR, more than 18,000 peo-
ple are now at risk for delayed or
missed diagnoses of colorectal can-
cer and more than 4,500 more peo-
ple will die from the disease in the
next decade.
Michael Sapienza, CEO of
Colorectal Cancer Alliance in
Washington, D.C., the largest and
oldest colorectal cancer nonprofit
organization in the U.S., says it is
incredibly important for facilities to
prioritize screenings for high-risk
patients during the pandemic —
including those with a family history
of colorectal cancer or polyps, or
other comorbidities such as Crohn's
disease, ulcerative colitis or inflam-
matory bowel disease.
"Both the Colorectal Cancer
Alliance and the American Cancer
Society have endorsed screening at
age 45 (rather than 50) and now the
United States Preventative Task Force
has the draft recommendation at 45,"
says Mr. Sapienza. "We hope they
stick with the draft recommendation."
Mr. Sapienza points out Black
Americans are twice as likely to get
colorectal cancer and four times as
likely to die from the disease, so
efforts must be made to provide bet-
ter support, education, awareness
PREVENTATIVE CARE
Improving Access
