UC Davis Health launches novel digital health program to expand colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, but the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. To coincide with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, UC Davis Health launched a digital health program for colorectal cancer screening that uses the Cologuard test.

“Early detection is critical for treating colon cancer,” said Eric Chak, UC Davis Health associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology. “The risk of colon cancer increases with age, and delaying screening is risky. Providing more screening options that are less invasive and can be completed at home gives patients a better chance at earlier detection and curative treatment for early-stage cancer.”

Providing more screening options that are less invasive and can be completed at home gives patients a better chance at earlier detection and curative treatment for early-stage cancer.” —Erik Chak

As a greater number of younger individuals are being diagnosed with colon cancer, it is important to offer convenient screening options. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends all men and women who are 45 years old with average risk factors be screened for colorectal cancer.

“Colonoscopy remains the gold standard to diagnose colon cancer, but the best colon cancer screening test is the one that gets done,” said Ashish Atreja, CIO and chief digital health officer at UC Davis Health. “Access to traditional colon cancer screening presents large obstacles, and utilizing this digital tool gives patients more options like Cologuard that are accessible and affordable for all.”

Cologuard is a non-invasive, stool DNA-based test that detects not only blood in stool but 11 distinct biomarkers that are used to identify colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps. It has a 92% success rate in identifying polyps at their earliest and most treatable stages. Positive at-home tests should always be followed up with a colonoscopy.

Access to colon cancer screening presents large obstacles and utilizing this digital tool gives patients more options that are accessible and affordable for all.”—Ashish Atreja

In addition to making Cologuard kits available, a multidisciplinary team at UC Davis Health has developed digital outreach through the UCNOW cellphone text message platform to encourage more patients to get at-home screening. The digital health project through text messaging offers patients the convenience of screening on their own time, instead of scheduling an appointment in a clinic or hospital. The program is testing usability and engagement before adopting for broader clinical use. So far, the results have been positive: Of the 86 patients who received the text message, 46 (53%) replied that they were interested in receiving a Cologuard kit. Of those, 18 (39%) were eligible for Cologuard after completing a questionnaire.

“By using text messaging to bring awareness to this home-screening kit, we can improve screening and triaging for a better patient experience,” said Omar Viramontes, gastroenterology fellow at UC Davis Health.

The UC Davis Digital Health team will discuss this program and many others at the GI and Liver Research Day hosted by the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. To learn more about the two-day conference on April 17-18, click here or register now.

About the Innovation Technology Joint Centers of Excellence at UC Davis Health

The Digital Colab is the digital health innovation hub at UC Davis Health that supports the Digital Davis Platform and UCNOW, a multi-faceted digital front door to support omnichannel messaging for patients. Using the principles of open science and innovation, the CoLab team partners with startups, life sciences, and industry to co-ideate, co-develop, co-validate, and co-transform digital health technologies.

The Operations Center of Excellence is a partnership between Innovation Technology and Ambulatory Operations. The Operations Center of Excellence supports digitally enabled care models and care at home through the Digital Davis Platform and fulfills the UC Davis Health vision of delivering tomorrow’s healthcare today.