Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1534588
13 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING 2 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING Screening for colorectal cancer is extremely important, as studies have found that a significant percentage of deaths from colorectal cancer are due to absence of screening. 6 Since the mid-1990s, national guidelines recommended that people 50 and older — and at average risk for colorectal cancer — should be screened regularly. 7 In 2020, about 70% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 75 had undergone colorectal cancer screening. In 2021, at the recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the guidelines were changed to include screening adults ages 45 to 49. 8 ACS now recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45, to be continued through age 75. From ages 76 to 85, the decision to be screened is based on a person's preferences, health, life expectancy and prior screening history. People over the age of 85 should no longer get screened. For people at high risk, the recommended screening guidelines are different. 9 Innovative colon cancer screening in Connecticut Connecticut GI is a leading expert in colon cancer screening, recognized by The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). With 119 providers in 31 locations, Connecticut GI is a non-private-equity-owned organization and the No. 1 GI provider in Connecticut. Their team provides personalized, around-the-clock treatment by board-certified physicians and teams who offer comprehensive services for GI care, including colon cancer screening. This includes being one of the first GI practices to pilot Medtronic's GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module. "Connecticut GI is dedicated to innovation and advancing GI care," Dr. Parikh said. "We recently adopted AI technology in many of our ASCs, which allow gastroenterologists to identify polyps more accurately and increase overall adenoma detection rates." To enhance its level of care, Connecticut GI has partnered with and is powered by the GI Alliance, the nation's most distinguished network of gastroenterology specialists. GI Alliance was rated in 2024 as the top GI brand in the country by Castle Connolly. "As a gastroenterologist in the greater New York metro area, Connecticut GI and GI Alliance's structure allows us to care for patients in our immediate community while being supported by a professional and patient-centric physician leadership team," Dr. Khaghan said. At its low-cost ASCs and endoscopy centers throughout the state, Connecticut GI stays on the cutting edge by constantly evaluating and adopting innovative technologies to improve the quality of care, patient outcomes and the patient experience. "We are also piloting machine learning and AI in non-patient facing areas to enhance operational efficiency so our staff can be freer to better serve our patients," Dr. Parikh said. "Innovations such as this are only possible when a practice lives its mission to be patient first." 6 Colorectal Cancer: Evolution of Screening Strategies, Medicine and Pharmacy Reports, 2019 7 Trends in Screening for Colorectal Cancer – United States, 1997 and 1999, CDC 8 Final Recommendation Statement – Colorectal Cancer: Screening, May 18, 2021, US Preventive Screening Task Force 9 American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening